Poverty Reduction and Climate Protection Summit in Paris

Representatives from more than 100 countries, international financial institutions and development organizations will discuss a financial system based on solidarity in Paris starting Thursday (9:00 am). This would make it possible to make progress in the global fight against poverty and overcoming the climate crisis.

Participants in the summit, organized by French President Emmanuel Macron, include EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang, World Bank President Ajay Banga and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. African and Asian countries are well represented at the summit. Economics Minister Martin Kucher (ÖVP) is participating on behalf of Austria, representing the Federal Chancellor who was unable to be present in Paris.

No binding decisions will be taken at the two-day summit. But what is expected is evidence to overcome the growing gap between the industrialized countries and the countries of the Global South, which are particularly affected by the consequences of climate change. The topics are forgiveness of the debts of these countries and the necessary investments there to confront global warming. As Macron said before the meeting, it is about reforming the financial system with the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and public and private funds to meet the twin challenges of poverty and climate change.