Final Conference Held: Green Horizons: Shaping the Future of Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development
10, June 2025
After successfully completing three seminars and two study visits, participants of the RSPD program had the opportunity to present their initiatives at the final conference titled Green Horizons: Shaping the Future of Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development, held on May 27 in Skopje, North Macedonia. The event gathered participants, environmental advocates, and stakeholders committed to promoting active citizenship and the green agenda.
Opening the plenary panel titled Bold Visions for a Sustainable Future, Dragan Tilev, former State Secretary in the Government of North Macedonia, emphasized that sustainable development must be a strategic priority within the context of European integration and regional cooperation. He also stressed the importance of linking environmental policy with economic development, highlighting that the transition should be fair, inclusive, and involve young people.
Youth activist Dunja Trifunović, member of the UNECE Expert Group on Resource Management, underlined the responsibility and crucial role of youth in shaping and promoting green policies. Lena Schilling, Member of the European Parliament from the Greens/EFA group, inspired the audience with her message that, even in times of uncertainty and environmental disasters, united efforts, ideas, and energy make every young person’s contribution essential in protecting the environment.
During the interactive World Café session, RSPD participants presented their policy proposals for a sustainable future, tackling topics such as plastic reduction, urban mobility, circular economy, climate adaptation strategies in the region, urban planning, and smart energy solutions. Notable proposals addressed urban heat islands in Skopje, Zagreb, and Novi Sad, as well as initiatives for more efficient urban planning across the region.
In the second part of the conference, Voices of Change, activists and local leaders from Serbia, Croatia, and North Macedonia shared successful examples of sustainable practices from their communities. From Serbia, Pavle Kostić presented the Solar Cube, and Nataša Gligorijević showcased her Eco Block concept. From Croatia, Iva Mohorovičić introduced Pero, and Martina Balja presented the Green Energy Cooperative – ZEZ. North Macedonia was represented by Darko Arsovski Petrovski with his GoGreen initiative and Irina Janevska, president of ARNO.
The conference concluded with a graduation ceremony for the RSPD participants who have significantly contributed to nature conservation and sustainability efforts. The final part included a discussion on next steps and strengthening regional collaboration, followed by informal networking, music, and a shared lunch.
