The ministers met online ahead of tomorrow’s informal video conference of environment ministers. On the agenda of the PES meeting: the European Climate Law, the Leaders Summit on Climate, and the EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change.
Meeting Chair, German Minister for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Svenja Schulze, said:
“The agreement reached on the Climate Law is very welcome. It is a pivotal piece of legislation, for our future and for the recovery. The deal moves us towards the transformative change we need to reverse humanity’s negative impact on the environment.
“As socialists and democrats, we can be proud that the Climate Law comes from our political family, from Commission Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans. Thanks to him we have a strong European Green Deal and a plan to move Europe to a sustainable future.
“Now we have an agreement, it is time to deliver our progressive ambitions for people and planet. With the Climate Summit called by President Biden, it is clear that the world is beginning to face up to the challenge of climate change. By adopting an ambitious European Climate Law, we have shown our international partners the way forward.”
This morning the PES welcomed the historic Climate Law, which will see the EU reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030.
Earlier this month, the PES Environment, Climate Change and Energy Network – which brings together the PES political family, NGOs, trade unionists and others – echoed the environment ministers’ call for ambitious action to move the EU towards climate neutrality.
The PES environment ministers welcomed the Climate Summit called by President Biden. It will be an invaluable forum to discuss and plan how the world’s major economies can deliver a greener world. The meeting reaffirmed the progressive ambition to strengthen global cooperation for climate action.
The meeting also exchanged on the EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change. Socialists and democrats are committed to strengthening the EU’s resilience to climate change and building adaptive capacities, in line with the Paris Agreement and the proposed Climate Law. With the Strategy, Executive Vice-President Timmermans is leading the way to a more sustainable future, for Europe and the world.
The meeting was attended by:
- Svenja Schulze, Chair, Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Germany
- Dan Jorgensen, Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities, Denmark
- Teresa Ribera, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, Spain
- Simonetta Sommaruga, Federal Councillor, Head of the Swiss Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications, Switzerland
- Pedro Marques, MEP, Vice-President of the S&D Group, PES Coordinator for the implementation of the Commission Work Programme, European Parliament
- Javi Lopez, MEP, Chair of the PES Environment, Climate Change & Energy Network, European Parliament
- Yonnec Polet, Deputy Secretary General, PES
