German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel called the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate, hosted by the US Administration on April 27 and 28, “vitally important” and said he felt very positive about a positive outcome at the UN climate conference in Copenhagen in December.

Enlarge image

Environment Minister Gabriel talks with President Obama at the White House on April 27.

(© Martin Bursik)

"The nations meeting here this week are responsible for about 75 percent of the problem and are 100 percent able to solve the problem," Gabriel said on April 28.

Environment Minister Gabriel traveled to Washington, DC, to represent Germany at the forum. He spoke one-on-one with US President Barack Obama on April 27, when the president invited the international officials attending the forum to the White House.

Gabriel welcomed the active engagement of the United States in the negotiations. “The game of whoever makes the first move loses is no longer the case.” Gabriel added: “Other countries can no longer hide behind the US. They have to take responsibility for their own actions now.”

Germany and Virginia Sign Climate Declaration

Enlarge image

Environment Minister Gabriel and Gov. Kaine sign the Joint Decleration as Ambassador Scharioth looks on.

(© German Embassy, Washington, DC; by C. Avril)

During the second day of the forum on Tuesday, Environment Minister Gabriel met with Virginia Governor Tim Kaine at the German Ambassador’s Residence to sign a Joint Declaration on climate and energy.

The agreement is designed to further develop the existing levels of cooperation between Germany and Virginia, by supporting “the exchange and application of mutually beneficial sustainable energy and climate change policies.”

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Governor Tim Kaine said, “we in Virginia have a lot to learn from Germany.”

He made particular mention of the development and strength of Germany’s solar energy industry, and said he hoped that dialogue and working together with Germany would help increase the amount of renewable energies in Virginia.

Minister Gabriel called the agreement an “excellent endorsement” of the Major Economies Forum but added that despite positive progress, this is no time for complacency and that sustained efforts must be made to continue increasing cooperation on a regional level.

Conversation with Sen. Kerry

On Wednesday afternoon, Minister Gabriel and US Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) took part together in a moderated conversation on climate change and the transition to a green economy at the Center for American Progress Action Fund. The event, "A Transatlantic Dialogue on the Green New Deal with John Kerry and Sigmar Gabriel," was hosted by the Center for American Progress Action Fund and Germany's Bucerius Law School. It also featured a panel discussion with American and German experts on the role of economic growth and modernization in producing green jobs.