PM Orbán calls for climate policy ‘guided by common sense’

Climate policy should be guided by common sense, rather than ideology, alarmism or panic, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said in Baku on Tuesday, addressing COP29, the annual UN conference on climate change.

PM Orbán talks about climate policy

Speaking among more than 40 heads of state and government, Orbán thanked Azeri President Ilham Aliyev for hosting the event. Azerbaijan is a key partner of Europe in reaching its climate goals, and an ideal place to hold the conference, he said.

MTI/Azertac

Orbán noted that Hungary held summits of the European Political Community and the European Council last week, where EU leaders adopted a declaration on competitiveness that will shape the EU’s approach to climate issues.

“Our mission is to make Europe more competitive, and we approach climate protection with this vision in our mind,” Orbán said. Hungary is proud to have improved its economic performance while cutting emissions in recent years, he said.

“We cannot sacrifice our industry or our agriculture in this process. We must continue advancing the green transition while also maintaining our use of natural gas, oil and nuclear energy. The price of climate change should not be paid by our farmers, the backbone of our economy and society,” the Hungarian PM said. “We cannot impose unrealistic quotas or burdensome rules on farmers and companies, but should offer practical support for them.”

Green transition and the fight against climate change should be conducted in cooperation with the business community, rather than opposed to it, Orbán said. “We need clear financial guarantees and significant investment, large companies must contribute their fair share to climate protection.”

Regarding Hungary’s achievements, Orbán said the country was vying for an important role in the development of electric vehicles and electricity storage. Hungary is further investing in its already robust nuclear industry, increasing it to meet 70 percent of the country’s electricity demand, he said.

“Geographically, we play a key role in energy transit between East and West,” the Hungarian PM said. Meanwhile, Hungary boasts the lowest utility prices for households in Europe and it has also posted one of the largest increases in the use of green energy, he added.

Hungary is also a leader of economically sustainable climate protection, ranking fourth among EU countries in reducing carbon emissions for unit of energy produced, he said.

Looking ahead, the country aims to reduce emissions by 50 percent by 2030, Orbán said.

“I firmly believe that by working together, we can balance ambition with pragmatism, establishing Europe as a global leader in climate action, in compromise with the prosperity of our agriculture and industry,” Orbán said.

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