Must convince other countries to bet on energy transition – German climate envoy

Germany has a key role to play when it comes to getting governments across the world on board for the transition away from fossil fuels, said the country’s new state secretary and special envoy for international climate action Jennifer Morgan in an interview with Süddeutsche Zeitung. “We have to convince [others] – the facts are on our side,” said Morgan. Germany could be “a shining example and show what is possible beyond the fossil world.” With a view to the energy debates resulting from Russia’s war against Ukraine, she added “we are now seeing energy security, climate action and peace collide in the current discussion. This is a huge power struggle”. However, the war could eventually hasten the global energy transition as it is shifting the perspective in the debate about energy supply: “Investments in renewable energies are investments in our independence and our freedom,” said Morgan.

Germany aims to strengthen its climate foreign policy with the appointment of former Greenpeace International head Jennifer Morgan as special envoy. The government wants to use this year’s presidency of the Group of Seven (G7) leading industrialised nations and democracies to improve the coordination of global efforts to combat climate change. The country is set to push for the establishment of an international climate club of countries with ambitious policy. Cooperation with emerging and developing countries, especially on infrastructure, will also be a key goal, making the G7 leaders’ summit on 26-28 June in Schloss Elmau, in the Bavarian Alps, yet another important stepping stone on the way to COP27.