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Climate, Environment & Energy
The EU is a global leader in environmental protection and the fight against climate change, promoting sustainable development through international cooperation, innovation and clean energy.
The EU and its Member States are taking part in the UN climate change conference (COP24) currently being held in Katowice, Poland until 14 December.
A combination of a growing population and climate change makes water one of the most pressing challenges the world faces in the 21st century. The EU is committed to enhancing its diplomatic engagement to make water a tool for peace, rather than a source of tension. We shall use many means at our disposal to promote and protect the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation.
The European Union has pledged close to EUR 300 million to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources during its participation at the Our Ocean Conference in Bali, Indonesia. This comes on top of the EUR 550 million in commitments made by the EU in 2017, when it hosted the conference in Malta.
Our Ocean, Our Legacy is the theme of this year's Our Ocean Conference, as it reflects our choices and actions to maintain the sustainability of our ocean's resources and to preserve our ocean's health. The conference will be taking place in Bali, Indonesia on 29-30 October.
EU High Representative Federica Mogherini met on 17 October with Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, to discuss the shared engagement and joint work of the EU and the Foundation in support of human development in Africa in particular, including by accelerating digital development. The EU and Mr. Gates also signed an agreement to create a joint fund to invest €100 million in European companies working to stop climate change.
