Italy and the US must spearhead the green transition at a "crucial" moment in history and convince other nations of the major chance on offer to safeguard the planet, foreign minister Luigi Di Maio said on Thursday.
"We are at a crucial historical juncture to safeguard the planet," Di Maio said after talks in Rome with US special presidential envoy for climate, John Kerry.
"Italy and the US are called upon to play a leadership role in convincing our partners that the energy transition and the fight to save the earth are an advantage and a major opportunity for the entire international community," Di Maio went on.
As G20 president this year, Italy is "strongly committed" to keeping climate at the heart of the international agenda and to "promoting a new, broader concept of energy security", he said.
Italy will host a Climate and Energy Joint Ministerial Session in Naples on 23 July "that will be an absolute first in the history of the G20", Di Maio noted.
