00:00We're here at the Munich Security Conference where a lot of geopolitical issues are being
00:04discussed.
00:05Obviously security challenges, but many environmentalists, ecologists are saying that these issues cannot
00:10be addressed unless we address the issue of climate change.
00:14How is climate change affecting the geopolitical issues in our world?
00:18Well climate change is a very significant security threat.
00:23We just had a new study come out looking at the integrated risks of climate change on
00:27security and our intelligence agency found that it's one of the top five risks to security
00:35risks in Germany and that we actually can't achieve any of our security goals if we don't
00:40address climate change.
00:42It cuts through everything because of the impacts and the extremity of the impacts.
00:47But also if you look at the energy transition going on, one needs to think about that as
00:51well.
00:52How do we move forward with fossil fuel producers versus those that are moving into the new
00:55clean economy?
00:57The recently released climate risk study states that more than 9,400 extreme weather events
01:03have occurred over the last 30 years with more than 800,000 people losing their lives
01:08because of them.
01:09Now you've spoken before about radical approaches needed for radical crises.
01:14What are those approaches?
01:16And with these geopolitical issues that are going on in the world, how can governments
01:20balance finances, resources to put more priority into climate change and climate action?
01:27Well, these impacts are having an extreme impact on people's lives.
01:30So we do need radical speed.
01:33It's really about speed right now.
01:35We have to have global emissions just in the next five years.
01:39That means a massive shift into renewables.
01:42That's really started.
01:43China is doing quite a lot there, Germany as well.
01:46It also means moving beyond coal.
01:49It means radical collaboration.
01:51So we work very closely with China.
01:53That needs to be intensified, as we do with many other countries.
01:57So how we can work together to share the lessons we've learned in our energy transition to
02:02accelerate that pace of learning and radical action, I would say.
02:06So what China does will be absolutely fundamental as to whether we can avoid more such extreme
02:12events.
02:14What Europe will do is very key.
02:16And I think together, you know, Europe has put forward the commission a 90 percent reduction
02:20by 2040.
02:22China, you know, very much with the great leadership that it is striving for, comes
02:27responsibility.
02:28We need an ambitious national climate action plan there.
02:30So if you don't think and build out resilience in your energy infrastructure, in your buildings,
02:36they will be more vulnerable when the next storm comes.
02:39You spoke there about the European Union, about China's climate action.
02:43There has been some concern about a lack of international leadership in climate action
02:48globally.
02:49Do you think China and the EU can become that leadership that our world needs?
02:53Well, we need leadership from everyone, obviously.
02:57And I think that the European Union is moving forward in that direction.
03:00I do see opportunities there for greater EU-China collaboration.
03:07There is already quite a lot that is happening.
03:09With that, it has to be a fair collaboration, a fair competition in both what we do together
03:16but how we work globally.
03:18They see Germany moving away from coal.
03:20They see us shifting the heating in our homes.
03:23They want to see that in China, too.
03:25What would you say is the biggest challenge we face to the progression of our climate
03:31changes?
03:32Is it people?
03:33Is it money?
03:34Is it power?
03:35Is it us individually?
03:36What is the greatest blockage in this movement?
03:40Lack of courage.
03:42Lack of courage to stand up to vested interests that want things to stay the way that they
03:46are, that are making a good profit on how it's been.
03:49Lack of courage to be putting forward ambitious policies.
03:55I think that is a key piece, and that means also putting yourself out there, despite the
04:01fact that maybe others may be coming in and saying that's not the best way forward.
04:06The evidence is so clear.
04:08The impacts are happening around the world, and the opportunity for the action of driving
04:13a clean and affordable future and prosperous economy are there.
04:17So we just need many courageous individuals all around the world to continue to step up
04:22and work together radically.
04:24It's obviously a very challenging time for our world, both geopolitically and environmentally,
04:30which produces a bit of an air of pessimism, you could say.
04:33Do you have any optimism for the future?
04:35Are you confident that the world really can reduce emissions, that we can get to the 1.5
04:41degrees in the next little while?
04:43Look, I'm extremely concerned about what scientists are finding.
04:47Every tenth of a degree matters, and I think what gives me hope are all of those courageous
04:53individuals who are out there.
04:55I have the privilege of meeting so many of them, whether they are the local mayor that
05:01I met in China recently, who is moving forward and building out renewables in his city, whether
05:10it be in Berlin, the local mom who is working to make sure she can get her kids to work
05:16on a bike.
05:17But the time factor, that is the other greatest challenge.
05:21We have to move quickly, we have to move together, and we have to take everyone with us.
05:26This is an all-of-society problem, and we need everyone to join in to make it work.
05:31Thank you so much.
05:32You're welcome.
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