Opening Remarks by Nikolaus Graf Lambsdorff Consul-General of Germany at the Event: "Climate change movie screening"

Transcription

1 Opening Remarks by Nikolaus Graf Lambsdorff Consul-General of Germany at the Event: "Climate change movie screening" 17 June 2015 Secretary for Environment, The Honorable Wong Kam-sing, Mr. Vincent Piket, Head of the EU Office, Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome to the European Day of Climate Diplomacy. It is great to see so many of you here tonight. I assume that at least some of you had never heard of a European Day of Climate Diplomacy. Still, you came and now you have to listen to me and to Vincent Piket to tell you a bit about it. Climate Diplomacy is complicated and controversial. However, there are two simple truths we all agree on Climate change, or global warming, is man made And, secondly, we need to do something about it, the sooner the better. Vincent is much better qualified to tell you about the EU s efforts to promote and implement measures to contain climate change, so let me say just a few words, mostly on my own country s, on Germany s role. Led by our chancellor Angela Merkel - who used to be Minister of Environment and is a physicist by training -, the G 7 have recently agreed on a further drastic reduction of fossil energy.

2 This is not only in line with the long-standing German position but reflects what the EU has been practicing successfully for many years: We are reducing our energy consumption even now when our economies are growing faster again. Nowhere else has this been achieved: Only the EU has been able to implement energy saving measures while at the same developing a whole new sector of renewable energies. And during this process we have invented, developed and implemented the necessary technologies. This is why we would like to use this European Day of Climate Diplomacy to highlight not only where we stand but also what we have to offer to find solutions for local as well as global challenges. Secretary Wong, for us Europeans issues of energy efficiency, renewable energies and many other environmental challenges have become part of our, if you like, political and social DNA. We just can t help it, we have learned (often the hard way) to look at the world with different eyes. Even here in modern, developed Hong Kong, we see challenges and, at the very same time, solutions. One such challenge is waste recycling. Germany was among the first countries to begin, first, to educate our consumers about the necessity but also the opportunities of a proper waste management. Today it is an accepted fact that waste recycling not only helps to save energy and protects the environment but is also good business. Ladies and gentlemen, tonight we would like to show you the film Taste the Waste which deals with this issue. We hope you will enjoy it.

3 Again, thank you for coming and now I pass the floor to Vincent Piket.

4 EUROPEAN UNION OFFICE TO HONG KONG AND MACAO Opening Remarks by Vincent Piket Head of the EU Office to Hong Kong and Macao at the Event: "Climate change movie screening" 17 June 2015 Welcome. EU Climate Diplomacy Day today, around the world Meant to raise awareness of the crucial appointment at the end of the year in Paris, the so-called COP21 (Conference of the Parties21). COP21 will really be crunch time when it comes to combating climate change. A sort of make it or break it moment. On this occasion, here in HK, on top of tonight's event, today we have published an article in the SCMP and Ming Pao called "Our low-carbon future: global action for a global objective". In the article, co-signed by all EU Member States present in Hong Kong and myself, we have highlighted the absolute necessity to reach a global deal in December in Paris. We have also stressed that Hong Kong has an important role to play, as part of China, but also as financial hub to channel funds into "climate finance" and, crucially, as a "smart city" setting the example in China, Asia and beyond. In the article, we also suggest that HK and the EU should become partners in the fight against climate change, by sharing our respective experiences and by bringing our policy makers, companies, scientists, financial experts, NGOs, students and the general public together.

5 Both the article and tonight's event are joint efforts by the EU and its Member States. Similar initiatives have been carried out all around the world. All this shows two very important things: 1-the EU and its 28 Member States are totally united in the fight against climate change; and 2- we are determined to secure a global deal in Paris in December. And we will play our part to make sure that COP21 can deliver. The EU's binding emissions reduction target of at least 40% by 2030 from 1990 levels, announced last March, will be our "national contribution" to the Paris Agreement. We urge similarly ambitious action from other countries and regions, including China (and Hong Kong). Let me conclude with a couple of words on the movie: the title "Taste the Waste" leaves little doubt about the subject. Waste management, and more generally Sustainable Consumption, is one the many pieces of the jigsaw. And one which is particularly relevant for Hong Kong, as you all know better than me. That's a clear example of an area where the EU and Hong Kong could compare notes and share expertise. In Europe we have done a lot of work in realising what we call, a little bit bizarrely I have to admit, the "Circular Economy", i.e. an economy based on massive and efficient recycling. And results are more and more visible by the day. We would be happy to cooperate with Hong Kong on this, for a start. And now please let's welcome Secretary Wong, for his remarks. Thanks