Enhancing public engagement in climate action and greater environmental awareness at the focus of joint EU and UN visit to Ohrid and Struga

Representatives from local municipalities, public institutions, civil society and the private sector participated in today’s events and meetings held in Ohrid and Struga with the Ambassador of the European Union in North Macedonia, David Geer and the United Nations Resident Coordinator Rossana Dudziak, aiming to inspire greater environmental awareness among the general public. The visit and the event in Struga are part of the joint advocacy effort of the EU and UN dedicated on climate action and environmental awareness and included a meeting with representatives from the National Park Galichica in Ohrid, as well as a UN Day event in Struga, focused on the same topic.

“Together with our friends from the EU, we started a multi-year open advocacy campaign called “I care” / “Се грижам “, aiming to inspire greater action to prevent climate change and to protect our environment,” says Rossana Dudziak, UN Resident Coordinator in North Macedonia. ”The goal of the campaign is to mobilize organizations from all segments of the society, as well as individuals from all walks of life, and to get them to actively contribute to our shared pledge for greener, better, and more sustainable future. The changes that we all want to see can happen only if we truly achieve a whole-of-society approach.”    

The visit to Ohrid and Struga included a meeting with the mayors of Struga, Ramiz Merko, Ohrid, Kiril Pecakov  and Debarca, Zoran Nogachevski focused on the current status and the perspectives on natural and cultural heritage preservation in the Ohrid Region as well as overall reflections on UN and EU cooperation in the region.

“The EU has developed the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, as its strategic partner.  The Green Agenda builds on clean energy transition and needs to be a new vehicle of growth for the region – by turning challenges into opportunities. The Ohrid region is the best example of natural and cultural heritage – something that is a feast for the eyes and a basis for growth. Both environment and cultural heritage have a universal value for us as individuals, communities and societies. And this is why it must be protected - for us and for the generations to come.” - says David Geer