Partnering for a Successful COP26
Earth Day Joint Statement by
Kate Marie Byrnes, Ambassador of the United States of America to the Republic of North Macedonia
Rachel Galloway, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to the Republic of North Macedonia
Andrea Silvestri, Ambassador of the Italian Republic to the Republic of North Macedonia
Our countries are committed to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions no later than 2050. Having worked closely to deliver the landmark Paris Agreement, we are committed to ensuring its success by reducing our own emissions and by cooperating with our global partners, including North Macedonia. The United States is committed to net zero greenhouse gas emissions no later than 2050 and plans to achieve a carbon-free power sector by 2035. The European Union has committed to climate neutrality in 2050 and intends to increase its 2030 climate ambitions by cutting its emissions by at least 55% compared to 1990. And the United Kingdom plans to realize the 2050 net zero goal by reducing its greenhouse gas emissions at least 68% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.
We congratulate the Government of North Macedonia on adopting their revised Nationally Determined Contribution, setting a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 51% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. We urge North Macedonia to take the necessary steps to keep a 1.5-degree Celsius temperature limit within reach, including through commitments to net zero emissions by 2050 and specific net zero strategies. This means increasing the tempo and ambition of the country’s plans to decarbonize, replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources. This means following the Green Scenario of the country’s National Energy Strategy, scaling up investments and creating jobs while protecting vulnerable groups. This means matching increased ambition with an equal amount of action, ensuring the country’s institutions are up to the task of promoting and enforcing deep decarbonization.
We also resolved today to partner with North Macedonia. The British and Italian Embassies supported Go Green and Young Climate Change Ambassadors to take action and engage on climate change. Young people are key to raising awareness, conserving nature, supporting renewable energy, and adopting environmentally-friendly practices. “Youth4Climate” will be the focus of the pre-COP meeting in Milan, which several young citizens of North Macedonia applied to attend, and we hope they will be selected. The United States is placing climate change at the center of U.S. foreign policy, diplomacy, and national security, including by helping raise global climate ambition through tomorrow’s Leaders Summit on Climate.
The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) will be hosted by the United Kingdom and Italy in November this year in Glasgow, bringing over 30,000 heads of state, climate experts, and campaigners to one forum around five key challenges: adaptation and resilience, clean energy, clean transport, finance, and nature-based solutions. Leading up to COP26, all countries should come forward with ambitious nationally determined contributions and long-term strategies to reach zero carbon emissions as soon as possible. This is the only way we can meet the commitments set out under the 2015 Paris Agreement. The decisions we make now will directly impact our ability to safeguard the environment for future generations.
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