The Long-term Strategy on Climate Action and Action Plan.

This Long-term strategy on climate action and action plan, submitted by North Macedonia to the UNFCCC in November 2021, outlines the country’s vision, goals and measures to achieve low-carbon and climate-resilient development by 2050. It builds and aligns with the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Considering the current situation regarding climate change in Republic of North Macedonia, the results of the modelling of the GHG emissions, including the respective social, economic and environmental impacts as described in the following chapters, and taking into consideration the Paris Agreement, and the European Union’s 2030 Climate and Energy Framework, the European strategic long-term vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate neutral economy, the vision of this Strategy is as follows: Republic of North Macedonia is, by 2050, a prosperous, low carbon economy, following sustainable and climate resilient development pathways, enhancing competitiveness and promoting social cohesion through action to combat climate change and its impacts. This vision of the Strategy is based on the recognition that, in the framework of the Paris Agreement, all countries will deliver their fair and ambitious contribution towards the global temperature goals inscribed in that agreement, which requires peaking of the global greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible and achieving a balance between global emissions and global sinks in the second half of the century. The vision enshrines Republic of North Macedonia’s sustainable development approach to fighting the causes and the impacts of climate change, in which a fairer and more equal society will be built, considering gender equality and female empowerment; the economy will successfully compete with other economies under the same conditions; and the environment will be protected for the benefit of future, but also of the current generations.
The adaptation measures contained in this Strategy are limited and mainly aimed at addressing the key barriers and gaps identified in the Third National Communication. The reason for this is the fact that the Strategy and its Action Plan would focus on climate change mitigation measures and policies, while the National Adaptation Plan (NAP), which is currently in final phase of application for funding by the Green Climate Fund, will focus on comprehensive adaptation policies and measures. In addition to this, sectoral adopted strategies in the fields of biodiversity and nature protection address climate adaptation measures, while the vulnerability assessments are already addressed in the national communications developed so far (water resources, agriculture, forestry, biodiversity, nature protection, tourism, cultural heritage). Specific mitigation objectives: Specific objective 1: To reduce GHG emissions by 64% in the Energy sector (excluding MEMO items) by 2050 compared to 1990. Specific objective 2: To reduce GHG emissions by 34% in the Agriculture sector by 2050 compared to 1990. Specific objective 3: To increase carbon sinks by 1733% in the Forest and Other Land Use sector by 2050 compared to 1990. Specific objective 4: To reduce GHG emissions by 2% in the Waste sector by 2050 compared to 1990. Specific objective 5: To build solid systems for the regular and periodic collection data for the production and dissemination of scientific and technical knowledge. Specific objective 6: To increase the resilience of climate change impacts of key socio-economic sectors and ecosystems. Specific objective 7: To establish comprehensive policy planning, coordination and policy implementation instruments for climate action. Specific objective 8: Mainstream climate change related aspects into the future national strategic planning documents related to education, research, and development, innovation, social inclusion and equal opportunities on women and men. Specific objective 9: To promote the green transition through capacity building, training for new skills and awareness rising.
On the basis of modelling results, the results of the Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment, the foreseen socio-economic benefits and the need to adapt to changed climatic conditions, the general objective is: Reduction of national net GHG emissions (including Forestry and Other Land Use and excluding MEMO items) of 72% by 2050 compared to 1990 levels (or GHG emission reduction of 42% by 2050 compared to 1990, excluding FOLU and MEMO items) and increased resilience of Republic of North Macedonia’s society, economy and ecosystems to the impacts of climate change It should be noted that MEMO items include emissions from aviation and electricity import. In order to support compliance with the general objective and with the implementation of sectoral measures, the general objective is disaggregated into specific mitigation, adaptation and crosscutting objectives, where specific mitigation objectives reflect the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) sectoral aggregation of GHG emissions and, therefore, to the extent possible, also correspond to the division of responsibilities for the achievement of specific objectives.