"There can be no effective climate policy without peace," Volodimir Zelensky warned by videoconference to delegates at the UN Climate Summit (COP27) in Egypt.
In his usual style, the Ukrainian president took the opportunity to recall that there are leaders (he did not name names) for whom "climate change is an occasion for marketing and rhetoric, and not for action."
Zelensky
directly accused Putin of blackmailing Europe and causing the energy crisis,
and stressed how the invasion of Ukraine has meant the return to coal of dozens of Western countries that just a year ago had committed to its progressive elimination, as the main emitter of CO2.
At the start of the debate on the financing of damages and losses at COP27, Zelenski put his finger on a sore spot and pulled world leaders out of their seats: "There are some who hinder the implementation of climate goals and there are others who mock from their offices of those who fight to save life on the planet".
"And then there are those who start wars of aggression when the planet cannot afford a single shot, because
global and collective action is needed,"
he said at the time of mentioning Vladimir Putin, whom he accused of destroying more than two million hectares in his country in six months and threatening a "radioactive disaster" after the occupation of Zaporizhzhia, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe.
"
The war has brought a food crisis to the world, which affects those who are suffering the most from climate change
," Zelensky said.
"We must stop those who, with their insane and illegal wars, destroy the world's ability to reach a common goal."
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also recalled in another act linked to COP27 the close link between war and climate change.
"Russia is using energy as a weapon
," said the former Norwegian prime minister.
"The invasion of Ukraine is a reminder of the need to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy."
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