The ambassadors of three European countries — Geza Andreas von Geir (Germany), Deborah Bronner (UK) and Pasquale Terracciano (Italy) — wrote and provided in Kommersant for publishing an article which calls for the strengthening of cooperation between Europe and Russia in the fight against climate change after the pandemic COVID-19.Scientists are increasingly coming to a consensus on climate change. The planet heats up. Increasing the number and scale of natural disasters, carrying destruction around the world. Heavy rains and flooding, frequent and severe droughts cause the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people and hinder long-term economic development. Just two years ago in Europe, a wave of record-breaking hot weather, which killed thousands of people in Germany and the UK, and which inflicted unprecedented damage on the agricultural sector of these countries. In Italy, the temperature increases faster than in other parts of the world. Russia is also faced with the increasing negative impacts of climate change: melting permafrost in Siberia, leading to the destruction of infrastructure, fires, heat waves, droughts. All this poses a direct threat to the lives and wellbeing of the population of Russia, as well as diverse flora and fauna of the country. The oil spill in Norilsk is only one recent example of how dangerous it can be for Russia to climate change.It is no exaggeration to say that climate change is a paramount challenge of our age. This long-term threat will remain and after we will deal with the urgent challenges associated with the pandemic COVID-19. The government rightly focused on saving the lives of people on the waiting difficult recovery period. At the same time we must not neglect measures related to climate change. We must be sure that all of the restoration program, stimulus packages and investments are in accordance with the Paris agreement and the Agenda for sustainable development until 2030.The recovery period provides an opportunity to start a deep transformation, and to accelerate the transition to clean, sustainable low-carbon development, but this requires the collaboration of governments, business and experts which will help to keep investing in carbon-intensive sectors of the economy, slowing its growth and is responsible for the emissions of pollutants. Our governments have committed themselves to adhere to the principles of “green recovery” after the pandemic COVID-19. Preliminary plans for such reconstruction have been submitted to the EC, Germany — July 8 — great Britain. We urge the Russian government, Russian businessmen and the financial sector prisoe��inalsa us in supporting the principles of sustainable recovery.The decoupling of economic growth from greenhouse gas emissions must be a top priority for all of us. Experience each of our countries is a direct example of the ability to continue economic growth while reducing harmful emissions. For example, in the UK for the period from 1985 to 2016, GDP grew by 70.7 percent, while emissions decreased by 34.2%. In the absence of any restrictions in the coming years economic growth with low carbon emissions will not only be more environmentally friendly and sustainable, but also more rapid: the Plan for sustainable recovery the International energy Agency will lead to the growth of the global economy by 1.1%, and within three years will be saved and added 27 million jobs. Investments in energy efficiency are a key part of plans for the rehabilitation, announced by the EU, the UK and Germany, as well as part of the measures taken by Italy to strengthen the economy. It will allow us to accelerate growth and create jobs while cutting costs and reducing carbon emissions. According to the latest estimates, improving the efficiency of administrative buildings in Russia will save 250 billion rubles per year.Of course, no country will be able to cope with the problem of climate change alone, nor can the concern for the environment — the source of all life lying on a separate state, ideology or party. Similarly, the response to the pandemic COVID-19, our response to climate change should be based on international cooperation and scientific approach.The historic Paris agreement in 2015 is the basis for these shared global effort. Russia’s accession to the agreement in 2019 was an important event for international cooperation in the climate field. In accordance with the procedures of the Paris agreement in the spring of this year, the Ministry of economic development of Russia has prepared a draft long-term development Strategy with lower emissions of greenhouse gases up to 2050. Set a goal to reduce by 2030 greenhouse gas emissions by one third from 1990 levels — is a good first step, and have the opportunity to make it more ambitious. According to the report of the Russian center for energy efficiency, published earlier this year, by 2030 Russia could cut emissions by 40 percent or more. We all need to put more effort in combating climate change and promoting goals to reduce emissions as quickly as possible to ensure the implementation of its commitments under the Paris agreement to halve emissions by 2030 and to limit the temperature rise in the world at 1.5 degrees��and Celsius.From 1 July 2020 Germany became Chairman of the Council of the European Union for six months. During its presidency, Germany intends to increase the level of interactions within the EU and beyond to advance an ambitious climate policy. In particular, Germany plans to support the successful holding of the 26th conference of the parties through the implementation of commitments under the Paris agreement and strengthen cooperation in global climate projects. A key objective in Germany is the presentation of the updated nationally-determined contribution of the country to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (ONUB) in 2020, and the provision of support to developing countries as a reliable partner in the fight against climate change. UK in partnership with Italy would host the next climate conference of the UN — 26-th conference of the parties in Glasgow in November 2021. Combating climate change and promoting solutions in the field of clean energy will also be key points of the UK presidency of the G7 and of the Italian presidency in the G20 next year.Inclusion and integration is especially important when talking about the young generation, as climate change will affect them to a much greater extent. We want to unite all sectors of society to give impetus to the international fight against climate change and to support it during the recovery period after a pandemic COVID, including in the framework of the youth event in Italy on the eve of the conference of the parties in the course of the 26th conference of the parties in Glasgow and beyond.Strengthening cooperation in climate change is not only a political but also an economic opportunity to create strong partnerships in low-carbon industries of the future (renewable energy, waste management, circular economy and so on), as well as continue the history of successful business relationships between Russia and its European neighbors.We must seize this opportunity to deepen our cooperation in climate change at all levels of society, leaving aside differences in other political questions, to work together on a productive recovery coronavirus to our country on the path of sustainable development and to protect our children’s future on this planet.Working together, we must and can undoubtedly achieve success.
