European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans arrives in Colombia to prepare for the upcoming climate negotiations

The European Commission’s Executive Vice-President for the Green Pact, Frans Timmermans, continues his Latin American climate diplomacy mission to Colombia from 25-27 January.

He will meet with President Gustavo Petro, several ministers, government representatives and representatives of civil society, with whom he will discuss the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) and the steps taken by Colombia and the European Union to protect nature and biodiversity, reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, and advance in the transition to clean energy.

On Wednesday 25, Vice-President Timmermans will hold bilateral meetings in Bogota with the Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Susana Muhamad, and the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Arturo Luna. He will also hold a joint meeting with the Minister of Agriculture, Cecilia López, and the Minister of Trade, Industry and Tourism, Germán Umaña. Afterwards, he will meet with several opinion leaders.

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On Thursday 26, he will visit the Chingaza National Natural Park in the Colombian Andes, accompanied by the Vice-Minister of Environmental Land Management, Francisco Canal, the Director of National Natural Parks, Luisz Olmedo, and the Director General of the Humboldt Institute Colombia, Hernando García. During the visit they will discuss forest and moorland conservation, protected areas, water resources and EU support for projects in National Parks and for indigenous and peasant communities.

On Friday, Vice-President Timmermans will be in Neiva and in the municipality of Aipe for the inauguration of the Brisas Solar Ecopark, an extensive solar plant where more than 48,000 state-of-the-art solar panels with bifacial technology and a sun-tracking mechanism will be installed for greater efficiency. The plant will prevent the emission of more than 216,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent into the atmosphere. The Vice President will meet with the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, and the Minister of Mines and Energy, Irene Vélez. He will also meet with business representatives to discuss Colombia’s energy transition. The visit will conclude with a tour of the Tatacoa Desert, Colombia’s second largest arid zone. Vice President Timmermans will leave the country on Saturday for Mexico.

More information on the Executive Vice-President’s agenda.

Source: Press release – UE Delegation in Colombia