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.