Joint and concerted efforts are needed to protect the environment and to ensure the rational use of the natural resources, Minister of the Environment Sergiu Palihovici said in the opening of an international conference held in Chisinau on the occasion of World Environment Day, which is marked on June 5, IPN reports.

“We must do everything possible for the economic development to go hand in hand with the protection of the environment. Given that our country is making considerable effort to align itself with the European states, it is indispensable to adopt an integrated strategic and system approach for protecting the global ecosystem,” stated the minister.

Attending the event, Prime Minister Chiril Gaburici said the environment policy means not only assessment of the negative influences on the environment, but also formulation of the measures needed to protect and conserve the environment. The national priorities in this sphere are to be harmonized with the European policies.

Within workshops, the participants in the conference discussed such subjects as climate change, energy efficiency, waste management, protection and conservation of natural resources, and ecological education.