Germany’s contribution to the Climate Change Conference in Egypt: Ambition and solidarity

The 27th Climate Change Conference (COP27) starts today in Sharm el-Sheikh. Under the Presidency of Egypt, government representatives from almost 200 countries will engage in negotiations there during the coming two weeks. For the German Government, limiting the climate crisis is an absolute priority and we will join forces in Sharm el-Sheikh to advance international climate action.

Annalena Baerbock, Federal Foreign Minister:

“Humanity is heading towards an abyss, towards global warming of over 2.5 degrees, with disastrous consequences for our life on the only planet we have. But humanity has all the instruments needed to limit the climate crisis and get on the 1.5 degree path. We know what we have to do – phase out fossil fuel as quickly as possible and switch to renewables. Solar and wind power is already cheaper than the energy generated by new fossil fuel power plants, which will destroy our children’s future. In Germany we have launched the most ambitious programme in our history to expand the use of renewable energies and we will be climate neutral by 2045 at the latest. At the COP, we want to join forces with other countries and we will call for more ambition and a robust work programme with concrete reduction steps.

Russia’s war of aggression and its geopolitical impact is overshadowing all international negotiations at the current time. The attack on the rules of the international community has led to uncertainty, division and a loss of trust everywhere. This has not made it easier to unite the entire world behind a shared target. However, 2022 must not become a lost year for climate action. For many countries, the survival of their population and their culture is at stake. For them, the climate crisis continues to be the most important security issue, not Russia’s war in Europe. They rightly expect more solidarity from the rich countries and Germany is prepared to provide this solidarity, both in terms of climate finance and support for coping with damage and loss.”


Robert Habeck, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action:

“Global warming is the structural crisis of our time. And we will be judged on our ability to keep this crisis manageable. We will only succeed in this by leaving the fossil fuel age behind us for good. Russia’s current war of aggression against Ukraine is significantly overshadowing the global commitment to climate action. Nevertheless, more than ever, now is the time for increased climate action. And this is precisely our German and our European response. We are speeding up our energy transition so that by 2030, 80% of our electricity will be generated from renewable energy and from 2035, we will only permit zero-emission new cars across the EU. In global terms, we are on the cusp of a completely climate-friendly energy supply. Coal, oil and gas have to be gradually replaced by solar power, wind power and green hydrogen. This now needs to be planned in a manner that is sustainable and well-coordinated internationally, and structured reliably with global standards. We want to press ahead with this process through additional energy and climate partnerships between industrialised countries and the Global South. The Climate Change Conference offers the right forum for this.”


Svenja Schulze, Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development:

“At this climate conference, Germany will be an important bridge-builder between industrialised and developing countries. To that end, we need to recognise that climate change has already caused significant damage, especially in the poorest countries. These countries are quite right to call for solidarity, and in the last few years the industrialised countries have not had an appropriate answer to this. It is thus a key task for development policymakers to find practical answers so as to provide concrete support to societies affected by climate change. The new Global Shield against Climate Risks can be a key contribution in this regard. We developed this Shield as part of Germany's G7 Presidency together with the most vulnerable countries – like Ghana and Bangladesh – and we want to launch it at the climate conference. This is an example of the progressive alliances we need in order to make the climate conference a success. The same goes for practical mitigation efforts, as developing and emerging economies now account for two thirds of global greenhouse gas emissions. By joining forces with other industrialised countries to assist emerging economies such as South Africa with a socially just transition away from coal, we can create new momentum, as the best protection against climate damage is still a quick global exit from coal, oil and gas, and the systematic protection of our natural environment.”


Steffi Lemke, Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection:

“We are confronted with three major existential crises that are mutually reinforcing: the climate crisis, the rapidly progressing loss of biodiversity and the crisis of increasing pollution – they all threaten the lives of people on this planet. Alongside Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and its devastating consequences, we must not lose sight of these three crises. The UN Climate Change Conference COP27 in Egypt must therefore send a clear message that we need to find joint solutions and address these crises in tandem. We must protect nature for it to protect us. Healthy ecosystems, whether forests, peatlands, or floodplains, sequester carbon dioxide, promote biodiversity and increase the resilience of our landscapes to the climate crisis. Without these natural defences against climate change, we will not achieve the Paris climate targets. In just under four weeks, the international community will come together in Montreal, Canada, to adopt a new global framework for biodiversity. I hope to continue building on the good outcomes from Sharm el-Sheikh there.”