Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

Planet 2021 - President Áder: Hungary Making Progress in Environmental Protection, More Needs to Be Done

Planet 2021 - President Áder: Hungary Making Progress in Environmental Protection, More Needs to Be Done

Hungary has more work to do when it comes to environmental protection, but it must also recognise what it has achieved so far, President János Áder, chief patron of the Planet Budapest 2021 sustainability expo and world conference, told pro-government public television channel M5 on Thursday.

Áder said that though some may be disappointed by the outcome of last month’s United Nations COP26 climate conference in Glasgow, it was “still good news” that at the end of the summit the United States and China agreed to put aside their differences and enhance climate cooperation. The president highlighted the commitment by more than 100 countries to reverse forest loss by 2030 as another step in the right direction.

He noted that after losing 90 percent of its forests under the WWI Trianon Peace Treaty a century ago, Hungary has been steadily increasing its forested areas.

Meanwhile, he said the three World Water Summits Budapest has organised so far had cost 1.5 billion forints (EUR 4.1m), but the business deals they yielded made them profitable for the state budget.

On the topic of sustainability, Áder said mankind should only consume resources that are naturally replaceable.

Asked about the energy policy of the new German government, Áder said its decision to shut down coal-fired plants alongside nuclear plants and restrict gas power plants could “turn everything on its head”. Until Germany creates the infrastructure for efficient energy supply and long-term storage capacities for cheap electricity, it will need conventional power plants, he said.

Concerning Hungary’s energy mix, the president said 70 percent of the energy produced in the country was carbon-free, two-thirds of it nuclear energy and the rest renewables. Once the two new reactor blocks at the Paks nuclear plant are up and running and Hungary doubles the capacity of its solar plants, 90 percent of the energy generated in the country will be carbon-free, he added.

Though Hungary’s CO2 emissions have risen recently, this has been caused by increased international freight transport, he said.

He noted Hungary’s plan to replace its entire bus fleet with electric buses by 2030, adding that electric rubbish lorries were also increasingly common.

Áder also said Hungary was one of ten European Union countries that have reduced their CO2 emissions by more than 30 percent and one of 21 countries in the world that have been able to reduce their emissions while increasing their economic output. He noted that the government has also set the goal of not leaving any sewage untreated by 2030.

At the same time, the president said Hungary still had more work to do in other areas, such as boosting the energy efficiency of buildings.

Expo seeking ‘solutions for the future of younger generations’


The Planet Budapest 2021 sustainability expo is aiming to ensure that the quality of life of younger generations will be “at least on par” with today’s lifestyle, he told pro-government public radio on Thursday.

The event running through Sunday at the Budapest fairgrounds features several inventions of young people contributing to a sustainable future, Áder told Petőfi Rádió. He cited a composting robot and a water-economic car wash system as examples.

Áder warned of the “throw-away society” gaining ground, and called on listeners to review their consumption habits. According to a UN survey, one-third of clothes purchased is not worn more than once, he said.

In the interview, Áder also touched on a campaign by the Regőczi Foundation, headed by First Lady Anita Herczegh, collecting money to support some 1,000 Hungarian children orphaned in the coronavirus pandemic.

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
Western Europe Records Hottest June on Record
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
France Requests Airlines to Cut Flights at Paris Airports Amid Planned Air Traffic Controller Strike
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spies and Arrests Hundreds Amid Post-War Crackdown
Hungary's Prime Minister Criticizes NATO's Role in Ukraine
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Hungarian Scientist to Conduct 30 Research Experiments on the International Space Station
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
NATO Leaders Endorse Plan for Increased Defence Spending
U.S. Crude Oil Prices Drop Below $65 Amid Market Volatility
International Astronaut Team Launched to Space Station
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Iran Intensifies Crackdown on Alleged Mossad Operatives After Sabotage Claims
Trump Praises Iran’s ‘Very Weak’ Response After U.S. Strikes and Presses Israel to Pursue Peace
Oil Prices Set to Surge After US Strikes Iran
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
×