Climate 360 Cocktail Reception

South Africa and the European Union (EU) are united in their goal to accelerate action against climate change, while ensuring that the necessary switch to a net-zero economy that this encompasses is a just energy transition, said Sandra Kramer, EU Ambassador to South Africa.

Germany and France have each released €300-million in concessionary finance to South Africa as part of the $8.5-billion pledged to the country by the EU, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States for its transition to a low-carbon economy, said Enrico Brandt, Deputy Head of Mission at the German Embassy to South Africa.

This year’s United Nations climate change talks (COP27) are “full of hope and anger”, said Okito Wedi, a medical doctor and founding CEO of Crtve Development, a communications company.

Two European Union (EU) packages, Fit for 55 and REPowerEU, are aimed at helping the EU to enhance energy efficiency and speed up its transition to clean energy, said Milan Frola, Deputy Head of Mission at the Czech Embassy to South Africa.