Implementing an effective climate and green policy is a Christian and patriotic duty, Minister of Justice Judit Varga declared in New York on Thursday, 20 July at the World Law Congress. Other speakers at the prestigious event included European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Luz Ibáñez, the First Vice-President of the International Criminal Court.
During her speech at the event, she stated that when it comes to Hungarian climate protection and energy transition policies, the government pays special attention to the framework set by the Hungarian Fundamental Law. She emphasised that Hungary’s constitution stipulates that
the protection of the country’s environmental and cultural values is the duty of every citizen,
for the sake of future generations.
Varga stated that only international cooperation can guarantee national solutions for preserving the environment, and citizens must be regularly informed and their opinions sought in the democratic decision-making process. The cost of environmental protection should not be imposed on the poorest countries or the most vulnerable members of societies, but primarily borne by major polluting countries and corporations, she emphasised. She added that international cooperation based on equality among nations should not lead to stigmatising certain countries for measures aimed at ensuring the well-being and democratic choices of their citizens.
The minister underscored the complexity of the issue and the seriousness of the challenge, using the example of the ongoing war in Ukraine and its impact on global energy politics, which particularly affects Hungary due to its geographical location. She explained that the sanctions imposed by Brussels have pushed prices up in Hungary, so the country’s main goal now is to secure its energy supply and
reduce the ‘sanction surcharge’ on energy.
The Hungarian government aims to protect the people living in the country, support retirees and families, especially by setting an upper price limit for household energy, she said. She added that Hungary does not support any proposals that would directly or indirectly endanger their energy security or raise energy prices beyond an acceptable limit. She urged the audience to remember that when anyone hears in the news that Hungary criticises the European Union’s sanctions policy in the energy sector, people should recall that Hungary is a landlocked country with limited energy resources, and therefore, it must be especially cautious to simultaneously meet the current energy security needs and ensure the rights of future generations.
She informed that Hungary can reduce its dependency on some exporting countries through the
expansion of renewable energy sources, the use of dependable atomic energy sources,
and the diversification of natural gas procurement, although currently, Russian energy sources still account for a significant portion of Hungarian energy consumption. She reminded everyone that Hungary has committed to reducing its carbon emissions by 40 per cent compared to 1990 levels by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Additionally, she pointed out that Hungary ranks 13th in the Net Zero Readiness Index, which assesses countries’ preparedness for climate neutrality, among the examined countries worldwide.
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Source: Hungarian Conservative/MTI
