Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke commented on the successful conclusion of COP28 as follows:
“At the start of the conference, I said that Dubai is about trust. We have worked hard on this over the past two weeks. Germany stepped up as a dedicated partner and bridge builder, and our efforts have paid off: the global community has rallied behind a clear commitment to implementing the Paris climate targets. The agreement that has now been reached is a good compromise, which will serve as a basis for the future. We have initiated the phase-out of fossil fuels to usher in the age of renewables. At the same time, the decision shows that we can only reduce emissions to the level needed and adapt to the climate crisis if our natural environment is intact. For the first time, we have agreed in a final declaration to halt deforestation by 2030, prioritise the protection of terrestrial and marine ecosystems and stabilise water cycles – which is all closely linked to the goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Circular economy has also been highlighted as a solution for the first time, which is an important step forward: we must significantly reduce resource consumption! This gives us the leverage we need to combat the triple crisis of biodiversity loss, pollution and the climate crisis. Practical implementation in Germany and around the world remains our core mission. We have the solutions. I will now do everything in my power to ensure that the agreement is implemented quickly.”