The new Flemish Climate Minister, Melissa Depraetere (socialist) has said that Flanders needs to do more when it comes to climate policy. Ms Depraetere was speaking in the Azeri capital Baku where she is attending the COP 29 climate summit. It is the first time since 2019 that Flanders has sent a minister to a COP summit.
COP29: Flemish Climate Minister believes that Flanders should be more ambitious on climate issues
Published:
Ms Depraetere told journalists that “When it comes to climate funding, Flanders has done its fair share, but when it comes to ambition, more is needed. An increase in the target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from -40% to -47% by 2030 would show the ambition to which the Flemish Climate Minister refers.
Wallonia is already aiming to reduce its emissions by 47% by 2030. Melissa Depraetere says that policies that have been launched since the new Flemish government took office are much more than mere adjustments they are “measures that are affordable and that will keep everyone on board” when it come to reducing emissions. She also pointed out that failure to meet climate targets could result in financial penalties from the European Union.
Unlike her Flemish nationalist predecessor Zuhal Demir, who did not wish to take part in the two most recent UN summits on climate change, citing human rights violations in the host countries Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, Melissa Depraetere was keen to travel to the Azeri capital to attend the COP29 summit. “Whether or not you are not present here, the decisions are still taken and the negotiations still take place”, the Flemish Climate Minister told journists.