Meloni says Italy will stick to Paris climate targets

Italy's new right-wing government remains committed to decarbonisation in line with the Paris climate agreement, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni told the COP27 summit on Monday.

Signatories to the 2015 Paris Agreement had pledged to achieve a long-term goal of keeping global temperatures from rising by more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, the threshold beyond which scientists say climate change risks spinning out of control.

"Despite a very complex international scenario, already affected by the pandemic and further disrupted by the Russian aggression against Ukraine, Italy remains strongly committed to pursuing its decarbonization pathway in full compliance with the goals of the Paris agreement," Meloni said.

"We intend to pursue a just transition to support the affected communities and leave no one behind," Meloni, speaking in English, added in her first address to a major international summit since she took office last month.

Italy has dramatically reduced its reliance on Russian gas since the invasion of Ukraine in February and Meloni said the country would pursue its energy diversification strategy in partnership with several African countries.

She said nations need to do more to respond adequately to the climate crisis.

"Fighting climate change is a common endeavor which requires full engagement of all countries and pragmatic co-operation among all major global actors. Unfortunately we have to admit that this is not happening," she added.