Germany adopts 1st Climate Foreign Policy Strategy

By Aysu Bicer

LONDON (AA) – Germany on Wednesday approved the country's first climate foreign policy strategy in the Cabinet, with a primary focus on adhering to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Paris Agreement.

The 74-page Climate Foreign Policy Strategy, developed under the leadership of the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, outlines the country's climate policy objectives.

The newly approved strategy underscores Germany's firm commitment to a European and multilateral approach, with a primary focus on adhering to the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement.

It emphasizes the need for collaborative efforts on an international scale to effectively address the pressing challenges posed by climate change.

A noteworthy point highlighted in the strategy is the recognition that the classifications of industrialized and developing nations, as defined by the UNFCCC in 1992, no longer accurately reflect the current global landscape.

The document asserts that these outdated distinctions should not impede swift and impactful climate action.

Germany advocates for a more contemporary and inclusive framework that aligns with the urgent demands of the present.

The strategy places a special emphasis on the role of the G-20, a group of nations responsible for 80% of global economic output.

"The G20 members, for example, which account for 80% of global economic output, generate around 80 emissions and in many cases have been able to increase their wealth significantly in recent years have a special responsibility to implement an ambitious climate policy. This includes making an appropriate contribution to international climate action and climate financing," the strategy explained.

The strategy aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions by half by 2030 compared to 2019, emphasizing Germany's intention to accelerate global energy transformation by "gradually" phasing out coal, oil, and natural gas usage.

In the Climate Foreign Policy Strategy, it is stated that an active and ambitious trade policy will be supported, with the assessment that "actively preserving the climate will become a competitive advantage for companies internationally."

Germany's new strategy commits to supporting economically disadvantaged countries that are particularly affected by the consequences of global warming, such as more frequent and severe droughts, forest fires, floods, and storms.