Written by Duncan Roberts
Published on 09.11.2022 • Edited on 09.11.2022 at 05:19
Xavier Bettel laid the blame for the current food and energy crisis firmly at the feet of Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. Xavier Bettel Facebook/Cop27
Luxembourg prime minister Xavier Bettel didn’t mince his words when he addressed the high-level session of heads of government at Sharm-el-Sheik on Tuesday.
Action rather than words was the clear message of the nine-minute speech that Xavier Bettel gave at Cop27 on Tuesday. It would be good for everyone to actually do what they pledged at the previous Cop meetings before asking what the next steps will be, he told his audience, which included fellow heads of government and high-level representatives. “We can meet every year to make promises, but what good will that do?”
While Cop27 is rather transitional in nature, it is no less important given the current geopolitical context. “We are now facing a whole series of new crises,” Bettel said. “We have a war on the European continent with implications far beyond Europe.” The prime minister argued that the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of international law more generally, have been undermined by the Russian war of aggression.
And he didn’t shirk from pointing out the consequences or apportioning blame for a lack of action against Russia. “I can assure you and say it loud and clear, it is the Russian aggression that is the cause of the energy crisis and the food crisis in some parts of the world,” Bettel said. “I regret that some countries do not firmly condemn Russia’s action.”
The PM said that solidarity between nations is essential to meet current global challenges. “And it is this international solidarity that is essential to move forward in our fight against this crisis that threatens us all and to which we must provide urgent responses: the climate crisis.”
But Bettel said that promises that have been made to other countries should be kept. “Let’s not have a bidding war if it’s just words afterwards. We must take action.”
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Bettel also took the opportunity to reiterate Luxembourg’s efforts at the national level, including the promotion and subsidy of photovoltaic installations as part of the country’s efforts to promote renewable energy. “My government will introduce, after a transition phase, an obligation for roofs of new buildings to have photovoltaic panels,” he said. “Every citizen will benefit from a photovoltaic plant on his roof and Luxembourg will reach its objectives faster.”
He also spoke about importance of including citizens in political decisions around climate policy, like the Klimabiergerrot. And he praised the Fit for 55 package measures, which are about to be finalised within the European Union, saying they are an important step towards the decarbonisation of the European economy.
“My country had made available for the years 2021 to 2025 an envelope of 220 million euros for this purpose. These funds, additional to the official development assistance to which Luxembourg will continue to allocate 1% of its GDP, will be invested to help the most vulnerable populations.”
Additional reporting by 