Geneva, 6 March 2024

Mr. President,

Albania thanks the Special Rapporteur for the sober and comprehensive report. We express our full support for his mandate and commend him for his efforts and engagement to advance the agenda of human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.

Businesses can play a pivotal role in promoting human rights for a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment by adopting a proactive approach to safeguarding our planet and upholding the rights of all individuals.

We took note of the conclusions and recommendations of the Special Rapporteur. We concur that businesses must and can contribute to transformative change by embracing friendly and sustainable practices for the environment throughout the supply chain, including reducing carbon emissions, minimizing waste, and conserving water resources.

Environmental protection is one of the priority sectors in the program of the Albanian government. Among others, Integrated Waste Management and Circular Economy aims to improve the quality of the environment and the health of citizens. One of the priorities in this field is increasing awareness, education, and involvement of the public in the framework of environmental protection.

Today we face many challenges to achieving our goals, but together, we can embark on this journey to protect our planet by taking concrete actions to create a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable environment and uphold human rights.

Thank you.