“Green transition is a change. It is a path that Europe and the whole world, and inevitably Moldova, follow,” said European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius who delivered in speech in Moldova’s Parliament on Friday. According to him, the green course and the policies proposed by the European Union are not only a transition, but also opportunities for the businesses to become better integrated into the European business structures and with greater success, IPN reports.
“One of the reasons of my visit is to inaugurate a small, but very symbolical step towards Moldova’s integration into the EU family – signing the association by your country to the EU Program for Environment and Climate Action called LIFE. This will help Moldova to address the weather and climate issues that the European Union treats extremely seriously. This way, we will assist you to prepare for the EU membership that is on a green course,” stated the European official.
According to Virginijus Sinkevičius, an unprecedented triple planetary crisis is witnessed: climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. The only solution is to radically change the economic model. “We must make changes and must make them swiftly. We must change the way in which we extract minerals, produce goods and consume. In essence, we must change the way of life. In the EU, we developed a systemic response. This is called the European Green Deal and this is our global strategy for creating policies and laws that reduce pollution, preserve biodiversity, increase the efficiency of resources and the circular character of our economy, ensure strategic autonomy and strengthen the sustainability of our food systems,” noted Virginijus Sinkevičius.
Among the most important components is a new Climate Law that sets the goal for Europe’s economy and society to become climate-neutral by 2050. The law also sets the intermediate target of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030.
The European Commissioner said that there are more components, including the circular economy action plan, the biodiversity strategy, the farm to fork strategy and many others. “We have common geographical location. We have the same ecological and climate preoccupations. We are affected by the insufficiency of resources and should strengthen our cooperation to find solutions. We are affected by the same tangible impact of climate change, including harsh droughts that were experienced by your country too. As a candidate country, Moldova committed itself to alight itself with the EU’s environmental legislation,” stated Virginijus Sinkevičius.
“I invite you to follow this course together. The LIFE program, the proper implementation of the Association Agreement, the strengthening of our dialogue - these are the real change in the agenda. The path of change wasn’t easy for anyone. It wasn’t easy for my country and is not easy for any of the countries of Europe, but is the path of change that pushes us on,” noted the European official.
