Minister Lipavský Opened the 31st OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum
12.09.2024 / 15:51 | Aktualizováno: 12.09.2024 / 15:57
Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský spoke at the opening of the 31st Economic and Environmental Forum of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. The Forum will meet over the next two days at the Czernin Palace and this year will focus on climate change and digitalization. Malta, as the OSCE Chairmanship-in-Office, was represented at the opening by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Christopher Cutajar. Speaking on behalf of the OSCE Secretariat was Kate Fearon, Director of the OSCE Centre for Conflict Prevention, who is leading the Secretariat until the election of the organization's new Secretary-General.
"We appreciate the OSCE's work on assessing potential security risks posed by climate change," Minister Lipavský said at the meeting. "Russia's aggression against Ukraine has reminded us how very topical this issue is in the OSCE regional context. The effects of the war have a direct impact on global greenhouse gas emissions, both locally and internationally, as well as on Ukraine's efforts to decarbonize its economy and adapt to climate change."
The Economic and Environmental Forum is an official meeting of the OSCE. It is attended by senior experts and diplomats from 57 OSCE participating States. It is the most important meeting of the OSCE's economic and environmental dimension, an area of the organization's work that focuses on the links between security and economic development and environmental issues. This year's theme is " Enhancing security and stability in the OSCE region through digital innovation, contributing to sustainable development and climate adaptation". The Forum is traditionally held in Prague in the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is one of the most important meetings of international organizations that are regularly held in the Czech Republic.