BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 20. Slovenia is committed to increasing climate financing, said Slovenia’s Minister of the Environment, Climate and Energy, Bojan Kumer as he delivered his national statement at the COP29 summit in Baku, Trend reports.
Highlighting the increasing intensity and frequency of climate impacts worldwide, Kumer declared, "We cannot delay decisive actions any longer. This decade is critical. We must cut emissions fast".
He commended the progress achieved through the Global Stocktake Agreement, describing it as a "milestone" and a guiding framework for future action. Stressing the importance of science-backed multilateral approaches, Kumer emphasized the need to implement last year’s decisions, including the energy package, while advocating for a transition away from fossil fuels and addressing fossil fuel subsidies.
"Slovenia is acting," he affirmed. The country has set a target for climate neutrality by 2050, with ongoing discussions exploring the possibility of achieving neutrality even earlier. Kumer also revealed Slovenia is drafting its first national climate law to establish a robust legal foundation for enhanced climate action.
Acknowledging the financial challenges faced by developing nations in addressing climate change, Kumer highlighted Slovenia’s increased commitment to climate finance. "In 2023, we increased our climate financing by almost 40% while respecting our commitment to double adaptation finance," he stated. Slovenia has also pledged to raise its contribution to the Green Climate Fund by 150% and to support the newly established Loss and Damage Fund.
Kumer underscored the intersection of climate change and global security, positioning climate security as a key priority for Slovenia’s role as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. "The climate crisis is also a security question," he noted, emphasizing that collective action must be rooted in climate justice.
The minister called for gender equality and a human rights-based approach in climate negotiations and actions at the national level. "The right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment is of key importance for sustainable development," he said, urging the international community to uphold these principles.