Addressing the United Nations Climate Action Summit in New York, President János Áder outlined Hungary’s achievements and future goals concerning climate policy and briefed world leaders on the country’s Virtual Power Plant scheme.
President Áder told the summit that the philosophy behind the now 10-year-old program is that “the cheapest energy is that which we don’t produce.” The scheme aims to improve the energy efficiency of individuals, businesses and public institutions, he said.
“The program has so far allowed us to save more than one quarter of the power output of the Hungarian nuclear power plant in the city of Paks,” the President said. “We did not have to generate 6 percent of Hungarian electricity consumption from fossil fuels.” The program has so far been implemented in Italy, Britain and Romania.
According to MTI, President Áder also said that over the next three years, Hungary will support international climate finance by nearly 6 million dollars, part of which will go towards the Green Climate Fund.
The President noted that Hungary was the first European Union member state to ratify the Paris climate accord, pointing out that CO2 emissions have only increased since 2015.
In regards to Hungary’s climate policy goals, the President said Hungary will boost its solar energy capacity tenfold by 2030, phase out fossil fuel-based energy production and expand its nuclear power plant. These combined efforts will ensure that 90 percent of Hungary’s electricity production will be CO2-free by 2030.
The President added that Hungary aims to achieve a 30 percent increase in the energy efficiency of its buildings by 2050. By 2030, public transport companies in cities with a population of more than 25,000 will only use electric busses. Hungary will also continue its reforestation program, he said, and by 2050, it aims to increase the size of its forests by a further 30 percent.
Photo credit: Infostart