Even in the midst of the current crises, we must not forget about climate change and environmental protection, because these are among the most pressing challenges facing humanity – stated Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó on Wednesday in New York.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the head of the ministry also participated in the UN General Assembly’s deliberations on sea level rise and plastic pollution.
In relation to the former topic, he stated that although humanity undoubtedly lives in an age of danger, the last few years have been about armed conflicts and the coronavirus epidemic, but even in such times, we must not forget that climate change and sea level rise are among the most pressing challenges.
He underlined that the rise of the sea level is not only an ecological issue, as it can also endanger the stability of international politics.
“Hungary sees this as a risk that could cause cities, islands, and even entire countries to simply disappear,” he emphasized.
According to his words, the management of this challenge is therefore a global task that cannot be postponed, it is necessary to act now, fundamental changes in electricity production are needed as soon as possible, and we must move towards climate neutrality or minimal emissions.
Péter Szijjártó stated that global industrial production is increasing, the use of heating and cooling systems is increasing, and the electric transition of transport is also underway, all of which increases the world’s demand for electricity.
And if this growing demand is not met responsibly, it could have tragic and irreversible environmental consequences, for example in the form of new natural disasters and increased sea level rise, he warned.
In this regard, he explained that the only truly responsible and safe way of electricity production today is nuclear energy.
He also reminded that the Paks nuclear power plant is being expanded in Hungary, with which 70 percent of the total domestic electricity demand will be covered, and in addition, 17 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year will be replaced.
Hungary views environmental protection as a practical, pragmatic issue, and it is due to this that our country is among the twenty countries in the world that were able to reduce their emissions while increasing their economic performance, he said.
The minister then presented the Hungarian government’s position at the session on plastic pollution, according to which environmental protection must go hand in hand with strengthening competitiveness, and made it known that these are also important goals of our country as president of the European Union.
2024-09-25 21:55:05