Chancellor Merkel in the USA: A farewell look into the future


Status: 07/15/2021 8:20 p.m.

Chancellor Merkel has been awarded an honorary doctorate from Johns Hopkins University in the USA. She used her speech to take a look at future politics and her own time after the Chancellery.

Angela Merkel was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Johns Hopkins University on her most recent state visit as Federal Chancellor in the USA. For the CDU politician, it is the 18th honorary title of this kind.

In her speech at the University of Baltimore, which was founded in 1876, Merkel addressed various current problems which, in her view, will remain the central priorities of future politics. One point: the effects of climate change. Extreme weather events would increase more and more, warned Merkel. This can also be seen in the severe damage caused by violent storms and heavy rain in large parts of Germany:

The floods that some parts of Germany are experiencing at the moment and which are really dramatic with many tragic deaths too, are an example of this.

“The accumulation is simply worrying”

“If we look at the annual figures, then there has always been a storm and a flood,” said Merkel. “But the accumulation is simply worrying and encourages us to act,” Merkel continued. She also cited other examples that illustrate the effects of climate change, such as the severe forest fires in the US state of California.

Merkel hopes for climate signs from Glasgow

The Chancellor underlined the goal of climate neutrality that the EU and Germany had already set. She hopes that other states will make an even stronger commitment to more climate protection and is counting on the planned United Nations climate conference to be held in Glasgow, Scotland, in November.

She expressly praised the fact that the USA, under the presidency of Joe Biden, had once again committed itself to climate protection and was present at the UN conference. “That changes the world completely, of course, because one of the big emitters is now also participating and because that of course also puts pressure on other countries, including Europe, including China, and other developed countries such as Japan, for example,” said Merkel.

The fight against Corona only works together

From Merkel’s point of view, the UN would have to play an even more important role in the future and therefore become stronger and more capable of acting. “Because they continue to offer the best opportunity to find global answers to global questions,” said Merkel. “The imperative in our often networked, but also so vulnerable world is to bundle our strengths.”

This is also evident in the international fight against the corona pandemic. This crisis can only be overcome together. She also thanked the researchers and members of Johns Hopkins University, who had made a significant contribution to fighting the pandemic by collecting data on the global spread of the virus. Since the early days of the pandemic, “researchers have been giving politicians a tool,” said Merkel. You yourself have benefited greatly from it.

First take a break

With a view to her very personal future, Merkel is striving for one thing above all after 16 years as Chancellor – a little more calm. She wanted to take a break, said Merkel, and think “what really interests me”.

And then maybe I’ll try to read something, then my eyes will close because I’m tired, then I’ll sleep a little, and then we’ll see.

Even after she left as Chancellor, she will not be able to completely turn off the thoughts about upcoming decisions, said Merkel. But “then it will quickly occur to me that someone else will do it now. And I think I will like that very much”.



Source link