National Environmental Campaign
The Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro, in cooperation with the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property and the Eco Fund, launched the National Environmental campaign “Čuvaj da te čuva” (Protect it, so it protects you).
The campaign is implemented by a broad coalition of key national and local institutions, partners from academia and civil society, socially responsible companies, and media – united in a common mission to protect Montenegro’s nature.
Th campaign aims to encourage concrete measures and environmental actions, engage citizens in creating a healthier and cleaner environment, strengthen transparency and interinstitutional cooperation, and raise awareness of the importance of both individual and collective responsibility towards the environment.
Messages from the launching of the campaign
“Environmental issues are solved through goodwill, stricter penal policies and efficient institutional cooperation,” stated Johann Sattler, Ambassador of the European Union to Montenegro, at the official campaign launch conference held on World Environment Day, 5 June, in Podgorica.
He added that success would also require some unpopular measures, such as harsher penalties for environmental offences and crimes:
“We need effective institutions and responsible media that will not only uncover cases of pollution and call for accountability but also inform and educate the public about environmental risks.”
Prime Minister Milojko Spajić reminded that Montenegro was the first country in the world to declare itself an ecological state:
“Unfortunately, there is a vast gap between that title and the current reality. We have spent decades prioritising everything — except the preservation of nature, our greatest resource and potential.”
According to the Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Region Development, Damjan Ćulafić, the diversity and number of partners involved in this campaign serve as proof that one of the most important national issues has the power to mobilise us all.
“I consider this to be our strategic and intelligent approach — a tangible expression of love and respect for my country. An awakened Montenegro, with its attention focused on the environment, is my greatest achievement (and that of my team) in these past 10 months,” Ćulafić stated.
Čuvaj.me – a platform for taking a concrete action
As part of the campaign, the digital platform Cuvaj.me has also been launched. The platform is designed for reporting and monitoring environmental violations and crimes.
Čuvaj.me was developed by the NGO coalition “Ozelenimo Crnu Goru” in partnership with the Ministry of Ecology, the Environmental Protection Agency, and with the support of the Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro.
Citizens now have a way to report environmental issues and violations via the platform, track the status of their reports, see which institutions and inspectors are handling the case, and receive information on the outcome — including whether those responsible have been prosecuted and in what manner.
Čuvaj da te čuva calls on every citizen to become part of the change and contribute to building a healthier and more sustainable environment — for themselves, their communities, and future generations.
Related articles:
Responsible Media as One of the Key Partners in Environmental Protection
Strengthening Preventive Measures and Penal Policy Against Environmental Crime
Sattler: Environmental issues are solved through will, regulation and partnership