I visited Brussels for meetings with the European Union, namely at the EU-UN Environment High Level Meeting on a range of issues including climate change and security and environmental governance. At a high-level event on climate, security and peace, I called for swift action on the root causes and impacts of our changing climate.
I proposed three actions to address the climate-security nexus. First, we need to address water issues. Water management and diplomacy can help us relieve water stress and sea level rise. Second, we should create a Marshall plan on solar energy. The Sahel holds an enormous opportunity for solar energy, which can help green and uplift the area. And finally, we need to assist Africa in getting urbanization right – to be sustainable and relieve stress on resources like land, food, and natural resources.
Brussels also hosted the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development meeting on Global Environmental Governance. Along with Xie Zhenhua, China’s special representative on climate change affairs, and Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change of Canada, we discussed important aspects of our programme of work on environmental governance.
I also had the pleasure to meet with Karmenu Vella, European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Frans Timmermans, Vice-President of the European Commission, members of European Parliament, and civil society representatives.
