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Akbar Novruz

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During her speech at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku on Wednesday, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni strongly advocated for the inclusion of nuclear energy in the global energy mix, emphasizing its potential as a clean and sustainable alternative to fossil fuels, Azernews reports.

Speaking to an international audience of leaders, Meloni acknowledged the urgent need to limit global temperature rise and meet the ambitious climate goals set at COP28 in Dubai. She highlighted the critical role that all nations, particularly major greenhouse gas emitters, must play in achieving the targets of tripling renewable energy capacity and doubling global energy efficiency by 2030.

"In this conference, we must adopt a new climate finance target that requires shared responsibility, bridging the divide between developed nations and emerging economies," Meloni said. "Italy is committed to doing its part, allocating a substantial portion of its €4 billion climate fund to Africa, and continuing to support global initiatives such as the Green Climate Fund and the Loss and Damage Fund."

While Meloni reaffirmed Italy's support for renewable energy, she also called for a "technology-neutral" approach to decarbonization, stressing the importance of a pragmatic and balanced energy strategy. She pointed out that no single solution—whether renewables, gas, biofuels, or hydrogen—can meet the world's growing energy demands alone. "We need a realistic global outlook," she said, warning that an overly ideological approach could derail efforts to combat climate change.

With the global population expected to reach 8.5 billion by 2030, and energy consumption projected to rise with the expansion of artificial intelligence and other technologies, Meloni argued that nuclear energy—including the promising future of nuclear fusion—could play a pivotal role in meeting energy needs sustainably.

"Nuclear fusion could be a game changer," Meloni stated. "It offers the possibility of producing clean, safe, and limitless energy, turning energy from a geopolitical weapon into a widely accessible resource." She highlighted Italy’s leadership in nuclear fusion, noting that under its G7 presidency, Italy hosted the first meeting of the World Fusion Energy Group sponsored by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

In addition to nuclear energy, Meloni emphasized the importance of new energy diplomacy to foster cooperation between the global north and south, pointing to Italy’s Maté Plan for Africa, which focuses on peer-to-peer cooperation and green energy infrastructure development. She also touched on Italy’s role in supporting vulnerable nations through initiatives like the Adaptation Accelerator Hub, which assists countries in mitigating and adapting to climate change.

Meloni concluded by underscoring the moral imperative of tackling climate change for future generations. "As a mother, nothing gives me more satisfaction than knowing that the policies I work on will ensure a better future for my daughter and her generation," she said. "Act as if what you do makes a difference, for it does."