Saeima Speaker Smiltens to perform presidential duties for first time

RIGA - On November 7 and 8, President Egils Levits will participate in the opening of the 27th session of the UN General Conference on Climate Change (COP27), and his presidential duties will for the first time fulfilled will be carried out by the new Speaker of the Saeima, Edvards Smiltens (Joint List) during his absence.

As Justine Deicmane, head of the Media Center of Presidential Chancery informed LETA, at COP27 Levits will call on the member states to plan and implement measures in a more targeted manner, which would allow timely fulfillment of the obligations provided for in the Paris Agreement - to limit global warming below 2 degrees Celsius and, especially in the context of geopolitical events, to accelerate the abandonment of natural gas, transitioning to renewable resources.

During COP27, the President will also participate in a discussion on the future of energy and climate education, as well as hold several bilateral meetings.

In Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, from November 6 to November 18, the COP27 conference will bring together 197 parties to the UN General Convention on Climate Change, among them - the European Union (EU) and all EU member states.