COP28 a key turning point towards achieving international goals: Portuguese Energy Secretary of State

COP28 a key turning point towards achieving international goals: Portuguese Energy Secretary of State

VIENNA, 6th July, 2023 (WAM) -- Ana Fontoura Gouveia, Portuguese Secretary of State for Energy and Climate, said that the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, hosted by the UAE in November, will be a key turning point for the world, paving the way for achieving common international goals. 

During her participation at the 8th OPEC International Seminar in Vienna, Austria, Gouveia told the Emirates News Agency (WAM) that her country is looking forward to participating in COP28, noting that Portugal's involvement in the global event will include constructive discussions that take into account the specific conditions of each country.

Oil and gas remain crucial elements in the global energy mix, necessitating research, technology and innovation efforts in these sectors to reduce carbon emissions and support current global environmental and climate protection efforts, she continued, adding that Portugal is currently assessing the incorporation of hydrogen into natural gas supplies.

Portugal also aims to strengthen its leading efforts in energy transition, with a target of generating 85 percent of total electricity production from renewable energy sources by 2030, as well as continuing its work towards climate neutrality by 2045, Gouveia stated.

"Our natural resources are our renewable sources, so when we invest in renewable energy, it is an investment in the security of our resources, enabling us to attain reasonable costs and create a competitive energy sector," she said. 

Gouveia affirmed that the benefits of investing in renewable energy extend to communities, as this will create new jobs and sectors that align with future requirements.

She then stressed the importance of enhancing investments in technologies that reduce energy costs and improve related capacities, an area in which Portugal heavily invests, including in offshore floating stations and integrating various energy sources to promote the role of clean energy.