State Secretary Flasbarth attends political talks in Brazil and Argentina
Germany and Brazil are committed to ambitious implementation of the Paris Agreement and they intend to work together closely in the effort. State Secretary for the Environment, Jochen Flasbarth, and the Brazilian Minister of Environment, José Sarney Filho, made an agreement to this effect. State Secretary Flasbarth is currently holding environmental policy talks in Brazil and Argentina. Issues to be discussed on the trip are bilateral cooperation with the two countries on topics such as climate action, forest conservation, chemicals policy and sustainable development.
State Secretary Flasbarth and Minister Filho emphasised that there can be no rowing back on the level of ambition now that the Paris Agreement has been concluded. They also agreed to build further on the existing good cooperation between the two countries.
State Secretary Flasbarth commented: "Germany and Brazil have enjoyed a good working relationship over many years, in particular in the areas of climate action and forest conservation. This was underscored by the Brazilian-German Joint Statement on Climate Change, signed in 2015, and by Brazil's important role in the Environment Ministry's International Climate Initiative (ICI). We can also count on Brazil as a reliable partner in upcoming steps that we will take as we complete the phase-out of coal, oil and gas."
In Argentina, State Secretary Flasbarth is to meet with the Minister of Environment Sergio Bergmann, the Ministers of Energy and Agriculture and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. In these meetings, the focus will be on strengthening bilateral cooperation between Argentina and Germany in the areas of sustainable development and climate action, in particular as a part of the G20. As in Brazil, the State Secretary will also have the opportunity to converse with representatives of environmental organisations in Argentina.
He remarked: "Argentina will hold the next G20 presidency and is an important strategic partner for us. In Buenos Aires, I will meet with Argentinian officials to discuss how Argentina can carry on the German G20 Presidency's efforts with regard to the 2030 Agenda, climate action and green finance and how we can support Argentina's Presidency."