Fight against climate change, yes, but with a pragmatic and never ideological approach, always keeping in mind the social impact of environmental policies and following a fundamental principle which is that of the centrality of the person. This is the “north star” that guides the Italian government, represented by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani at the climate summit in Belem, the “gateway to the Amazon” in Brazil where world leaders gathered in view of the start of Cop30 next week. A symbolic place for a symbolic anniversary, ten years after the Paris Agreement and twenty since the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol.
“The defense of the environment must start from a fundamental principle: the person is at the center of all our actions to protect nature”, stated the head of the Farnesina in his speech to the plenary. Italy, Tajani assured while speaking to journalists, is “strongly committed to the fight against climate change” but “every action must take into account the social problem, that is, the role of man, and employment”. “It is good to have objectives, but we must always be pragmatic and never ideological”, continued the deputy prime minister, convinced that “there is no need for ideological approaches that impose unsustainable and unattainable objectives, thus damaging the European economic, industrial and social system”.
An example is the agreement reached between EU countries on the 2040 objective for reducing emissions, defined by Tajani as “an ambitious agreement, inspired by rationality and balance, a good compromise”. This is “a very positive result for our country, for our businesses, for agriculture, for industry”, continued the minister, who in front of the other leaders in the plenary underlined how “the response to climate change requires policies for growth, development and job creation”. “Environmental policies should not represent a constraint but a great opportunity for progress and freedom, a driving force for investments for growth and technological innovation”, he added, looking at the Green Deal.
The watchword is balance, reiterated Tajani, aware that “more must be done”, especially “those countries that are not drastically reducing their pollution”. “I believe Europe has done a lot, it is at the forefront compared to others, also paying a price, because there is also environmental dumping by other countries towards us, I am thinking of China.” A phenomenon against which, in some sectors, such as «for example steel and ceramics, anti-dumping measures can be adopted, which are not duties», specified the minister. “Because when there is unfair competition, like dumping, you have to protect yourself.”