Belarus announces commitment to significantly reduce emissions

MINSK, 24 September (BelTA) - Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei attended the Climate Action Summit on the sidelines of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly on 23 September, BelTA learned from the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“Belarus is firmly committed to the transition to the low-carbon sustainable economy and has sent a statement to the UN Secretariat informing of its intention to make an unconditional commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 35% by 2030 over 1990, using solely its own resources,” the ministry said.

The concrete measures of Belarus towards low-carbon development include increased use of renewable energy, construction of energy-efficient housing and development of electric vehicles market, and the use of low-carbon and carbon-free technologies.

The Belarusian minister also attended the Global Call to Protect Religious Freedom, which was initiated by the United States. The initiative aims to increase international support for measures to protect different religions in the context of growing persecution of persons because of their religion and also attacks and destruction of houses of worship. The event was attended by U.S. President Donald Trump, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

Vladimir Makei held a meeting with Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg at the UN headquarters. The parties welcomed the constructive and trusting nature of the interaction between the two countries. Prospects for further building capacity of bilateral trade and economic cooperation were discussed. The foreign ministers agreed to coordinate work to organize high-level visits.

In New York, Vladimir Makei met with Brock Bierman, Assistant Administrator for USAID's Bureau for Europe and Eurasia. The parties gave a detailed look at the bilateral cooperation and promising areas of cooperation, including in small and medium-sized business, tourism and culture.

At a meeting with David Harris, the Executive Director of the American Jewish Committee (AJC), the parties discussed the prospects for cooperation between Belarus and AJC, including joint projects to perpetuate the memory of the Holocaust victims, preserve the historical and cultural heritage of the Jewish people, develop nostalgic tourism in Belarus and also steps to further counter anti-Semitism.

At the invitation of the World Economic Forum (WEF), the Belarusian minister took part in the Shaping Partnerships for a Multiconceptual World panel discussion which took place on the sidelines of the WEF Sustainable Development Impact summit ahead of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly.

Vladimir Makei met with WEF President Borge Brende discussed the prospects for cooperation, including in the context of the planned accession of Belarus to the WTO. The head of the forum suggested thinking about possible formats for Belarus to participate in the economic forums in Davos. The parties also discussed urgent problems of regional cooperation and security. Vladimir Makei welcomed the WEF decision to include Belarus in the Global Competitiveness Index report in 2020 and confirmed the invitation for Borge Brende to visit Belarus.