The Committees on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), on Foreign Affairs (AFET), on Development (DEVE) hold a joint public hearing with Mr Wopke HOEKSTRA, Commissioner-designate for Climate Action. HOEKSTRA has been named by the Dutch Government to substitute the former Executive Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for the file on Climate Action, Frans TIMMERMANS, who will run for the National elections in his country. Extracts from the public hearing.

Strasbourg

public hearing

fight against climate change (T)

hearing of Commissioners

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hearing of Wopke HOEKSTRA 2023 (T)

Wopke HOEKSTRA (NL)

Hearing of Wopke HOEKSTRA, Commissioner-designate for Climate Action: extracts from the hearing

External view of the EP, Strasbourg (1 shot)

Arrival of Wopke HOEKSTRA commissioner-designate (4 shots)

SOUNDBITE (English), Wopke HOEKSTRA commissioner-designate, Honorable members, as commissioner, I will be driven by facts, by numbers, by science, and I will be convinced by evidence. But I will also be adamant in giving a voice to the next generation.

SOUNDBITE (English), Wopke HOEKSTRA commissioner-designate, With the European Green Deal, President von der Leyen, a former executive Vice-President, Timmermans laid the foundations for Europe's green transformation. And I want to assure you that continuity is in place on the entire Green Deal.

SOUNDBITE (English), Wopke HOEKSTRA commissioner-designate, We're running a marathon, not a sprint, through a climate portfolio. I want to prepare the foundations of a Green Deal 2.0 on climate, on biodiversity, circularity and pollution, and help increase ambitions across the board.

SOUNDBITE (English), Wopke HOEKSTRA commissioner-designate, We will present our communication on the 2040 target and a scientific advisory board has already published compelling evidence with recommendations on technological feasibility and removals from environmental risk limits, international cooperation and fairness. The board advises a minimum target of 90% net reductions of greenhouse gas emissions.

SOUNDBITE (English), Wopke HOEKSTRA commissioner-designate, But I can offer you my clear commitment. I will act in line with the board's advice. I will use all instruments available to aim to enable you to reach the minimum recommended target of 90% net reductions.

SOUNDBITE (English), Wopke HOEKSTRA commissioner-designate, I will champion the use push to triple global renewable energy capacity, double energy efficiency, and phase out unabated fossil fuels. Fossil fuels must become history. The sooner the better.

SOUNDBITE (English), Wopke HOEKSTRA commissioner-designate, But public expectations for COP 28 are high, and rightly so. And time is running out. We must get the world on track for one and a half degrees.

SOUNDBITE (German), Wopke HOEKSTRA commissioner-designate, Climate policy. Is closely linked to the other pillars of the Green Deal. This applies to biodiversity, especially the nature restoration law, the soil law, and the upcoming forest monitoring law. In order to achieve our climate goals, we need to complete the Green Deal. Our soils, oceans and forests are the biggest carbon sinks. A healthy natural environment will keep us cool on an iPhone and an increasingly warm planet.