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15 Nov, 2022

Strong liberal presence at COP27

Liberal Prime Ministers and Ministers as well as national and European representatives are taking part in the 2022 United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP27).

For two weeks, the liberal leaders will speak and negotiate on key topics for the European and global sustainable future including adaptation, mitigation and resilience as well as gender, finance and innovation. 

European liberals have been calling for a more effective response to the challenge of climate change, especially in the current geopolitical context with the war in Ukraine and the post-pandemic recovery. We must find the balance between energy production, economic development and environmental protection.

Our aims are to strengthen international cooperation, increase ambitions to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, ensure a fair and just energy transition and protect the environment.

During COP27, European Council President Charles Michel affirmed that the EU’s commitment to climate neutrality remains strong:

“We are and will remain champions of climate action. We are determined to protect nature, the oceans and the forests, which make up our lungs and are guarantors of human life on earth and of biodiversity.”

Read his full speech here

European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson insisted on the importance of energy.

“Energy has always been central to winning the fight against climate change. The majority of the world's greenhouse gases are created by the production and consumption of energy, so without decarbonising our energy systems, net zero will remain out of reach.”

Read her full speech here

European Investment Bank (EIB) President Werner Hoyer presented the actions taken by the EIB.

“The EIB is determined to do its part. In 2021, the EIB delivered a record amount of green finance of €27.4 billion globally, more than 50% of our total activity. This includes investment in floating wind farms in Europe, solar energy in Africa, clean transport in Asia and climate adaptation in Latin America. I can already indicate today that we are confident we will reach similar levels of green financing again in 2022, and we will be announcing a number of projects here at COP in the next two weeks.”

Read the full speech here

Prime Minister of Belgium Alexander De Croo warned about the consequences of climate change and of the policies needed to combat it.

“The fight against climate change is a fight for survival. Our physical survival. But also, a fight to keep the social cohesion. Some people feel the consequences of climate change much harder than others. And some people will feel the consequences of climate policy much harder than others. I am thinking of our farmers, of people who rent old apartments, but also about small family businesses. So, it is more important than ever, to get our fight right.”

Read the full speech here

Taoiseach of Ireland Micheál Martin sent a message of hope.

“When I spoke at COP26 last year I said I did not believe that it is too late; that the transition will be too costly; that it is inevitable that we will leave people behind. I believe it even more so now. It is realistic for our legacy to be a sustainable planet. We in Ireland will do everything in our power to bring it about.”

Read the full speech here

Prime Minister of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel insisted on the need to work together to save the planet.

“International solidarity is key in the fight against the climate crisis. Our strength lies in cooperation; international solidarity is essential to move forward in our fight against this crisis.”

Read the official statement here

Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte took responsibility for the current situation.

“1.5 degrees. That was our legitimate ambition in Paris. But 7 years on, we are lagging seriously behind. The action we’ve taken so far has been way too little, way too late. We are far beyond the point of new ambitions and promises. We need to step up, and rapidly deliver on the promises we’ve made. The Netherlands is taking its responsibility. My country will reduce its carbon emissions by 55 to 60 per cent in this decade.”

Read his full speech here

Morten Helveg Petersen MEP and Nils Torvalds MEP took part of the discussions as part of the EU Parliament delegation. During their exchanges they dealt with the issue of climate justice and climate finance.

The 2022 United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP27) is taking place from 6-18 November Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.

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