Commissioner Roswall's speech at the Inaugural Convening of the Women Public Sector Climate Leaders Network

I am delighted to be part of today's inaugural event.

And I'm delighted to be sharing a room with such inspirational and impressive leaders.

Mary Robinson – the first female president of Ireland and founding member of the Elders – once said that that climate change is a man-made problem that requires a feminist solution.

In that case, I am excited about the potential of this group.

And, after this past summer, I'm sure we can all agree how urgent this is.

Climate change and environmental breakdown are already taking a massive toll on our economy, our food and energy systems, our health and more.

I see it in the tens of thousands of excess deaths this summer.

In the broken water cycle and the drought that has gripped much of Europe.

In extreme heat, dry fields and lost harvests.

In broken supply chains and shrinking rivers.

The economic cost is staggering — extreme heat alone cost an estimated 180 billion across the EU this summer.

And it leaves us with no doubt about the need to act –decisively and collectively.

That starts with protecting the bedrock of our society and economy – healthy water bodies. healthy soil, and healthy ecosystems.

Functioning ecosystems are also one of Europe's most important assets for climate resilience.

Healthy wetlands and free flowing rivers act as barriers to drought and flooding.

Diverse, healthy forests are less prone to fire.

Green cities protect the most vulnerable from heatwaves.

Pollinators and rich soils give us food security.

So, we all need to do more to protect and restore nature.

As people who understand that to secure our future, we must secure the conditions that make it viable: like clean water and air.  

And, as people who recognise that this is an urgent necessity, but also, a massive opportunity.

Climate action is central to economic transformation and to economic resilience.

And we have heard it from leaders and experts all over the world.