PM Giorgia Meloni tells COP27 Italy to stick to Paris climate targets

The new right-wing government in Italy remains committed to decarbonisation in line with the Paris climate agreement, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni told the COP27 summit in Egypt on Monday.

Signatories to the 2015 Paris Agreement pledged to achieve a long-term goal of keeping global temperatures from rising by over 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

Beyond that threshold, scientists believe climate change could spin out of control.

“Despite a very complex international scenario, already affected by the pandemic and further disrupted by the Russian aggression against Ukraine, Italy remains strongly committed to pursuing its decarbonisation pathway in full compliance with the goals of the Paris agreement,” Meloni stated.

“We intend to pursue a just transition to support the affected communities and leave no one behind.”

This was her first speech to a major international summit since she took office last month.

Italy has dramatically reduced its reliance on Russian gas since the Russian war in Ukraine.  February.

Meloni said her country would pursue its energy diversification strategy in partnership with several African countries.

She added that nations have to do more to respond adequately to the climate crisis.

“Fighting climate change is a common endeavour which requires full engagement of all countries and pragmatic co-operation among all major global actors,” Meloni stated. “Unfortunately, we have to admit that this is not happening.”