Meet The EU’s 28 Climate Change Ministers — on Social Media

Posts 10 May 2016

You’ll have seen your national climate change minister and probably an EU commissioner or two if you’ve been following the news. But did you know there are 27 other ministers who also get to decide?

Following a Daily Planet investigation, we can now introduce you to the 11 women and 17 men – and their social media accounts – who are responsible for climate change in Europe.

The European Commission may act like the European Union’s executive power – say, the White House – but it is the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union (also known as the Council of Ministers) – compare it to the U.S. Congress – that pass laws before they are put into action.

The European Parliament is made up of 751 Members of European Parliament (MEPs) and directly represents you, the people. If functions much like any other parliament. The other half of the legislature, the Council of the European Union, represents the national governments. Most laws have to pass through both halves of the legislature to take effect.

28 Ministers

If the Council of the EU would meet in full, like a parliament often does, it would also count about 700 to 800 members (ministers, in their case). But instead it meets in 10 different configurations of 28 national ministers based on the topic at hand. This means that for everything environment or climate change related, only the 28 climate change ministers – from the EU’s 28 member states – meet in Brussels.

This sub committee of the Council of the EU, as it were, is known as the Environment Council in Brussels jargon.

Dynamics in The Room

On a European level, politicians often collaborate based on their political colour rather than their nationality. In the Council of the EU (unlike the European Parliament) this sometimes gets complicated, because ministers frequently represent a coalition government back home.

But in the list below, we’ve still indicated which EU parties the climate change ministers belong to, to give you an idea of the dynamics in the room.

The Party of European Socialists (PES) currently dominates the Environment Council with seven ministers, followed by the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) with six ministers and the European People’s Party (EPP) with five climate change ministers. The remaining ten ministers are a mix of non-aligned politicians, European Greens, Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists (AECR) and Alliance for Direct Democracy in Europe (ADDE).

It turns out there is a fair bit of tweeting going on in the Environment Council, with 16 ministers on Twitter, here’s our Twitter list.

Even though it’s 2016, we haven’t been able to find Facebook or Twitter accounts for six ministers at this time (Slovenia, Hungary, Spain, Luxemburg, Portugal, Slovakia) but we have found photos of some of those ministers on social media. Let us know in the comments or e-mail us if we missed something!

And now without further ado, let us introduce you to Europe’s 28 climate change ministers!

Disclaimer: This information was up to date on 10 May 2016, but is subject to frequent change based on national elections and cabinet reshuffles.

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[mks_accordion_item title=”Austria”]

Meet minister Andrä Rupprechter. Here, he is seen making phone calls for a political campaign.

https://www.facebook.com/BMRupprechter/photos/a.741873852524522.1073741830.732636720114902/1184050684973501/?type=3&theater

Name: Mr Andrä Rupprechter
Title: Minister for Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management
EU party: European People’s Party (EPP)
Twitter: @BMRupprechter (Verified account)
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BMRupprechter (Verified account)
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[mks_accordion_item title=”Belgium”]

Meet minister Marie Christine Marghem (right), who is standing next to Queen Mathilde of Belgium in this post.

https://www.facebook.com/1509779409254144/photos/a.1775383322693750.1073742026.1509779409254144/1775733829325366/?type=3&theater

Name: Ms Marie Christine Marghem
Title: Minister of Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development
EU party: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE)
Twitter: —
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mariechristine.marghem.5

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[mks_accordion_item title=”Bulgaria”]

Meet minister Ivelina Vesselinova Vassileva (right), who is meeting with Bulgarian writer Anton Donchev in this photo.

https://www.facebook.com/1438646326347103/photos/a.1447260695485666.1073741829.1438646326347103/1746829942195405/?type=3&theater

Name: Ms Ivelina Vesselinova Vassileva
Title: Minister of Environment and Water
EU party: European People’s Party (EPP)
Twitter: —
Facebook: http://bit.ly/1rKH3UA

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[mks_accordion_item title=”Croatia”]

Meet minister Slaven Dobrović (second from right).

https://www.facebook.com/441798972688338/photos/a.471820813019487.1073741829.441798972688338/471820749686160/?type=3&theater

Name: Mr Slaven Dobrović
Title: Minister for Environment and Nature Protection
EU party: —
Twitter: —
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Slaven-Dobrovi%C4%87-441798972688338

[/mks_accordion_item]

[mks_accordion_item title=”Cyprus”]

Meet minister Nicos Kouyialis (left), who is talking to the pope in this photo.

Name: Mr Nicos Kouyialis
Title: Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment
EU party: Unclear due to turbulent elections this month
Twitter: @nicoskouyialis
Facebook: —

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[mks_accordion_item title=”Czech Republic”]

Meet minister Richard Brabec, who is seen signing the Paris Agreement in this post.

https://www.facebook.com/MinisterstvoZP/photos/a.189558121088677.49618.189520154425807/1190802697630876/?type=3&theater

Name: Mr Richard Brabec
Title: Minister of the Environment
EU party: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE)
Twitter: @RibraRichard
Facebook: www.facebook.com/richard.brabec.9

[/mks_accordion_item]

[mks_accordion_item title=”Denmark”]

Meet minister Esben Lunde Larsen, who is shown in the UN’s general assembly hall in New York in this photo.

https://www.facebook.com/esbenlundelarsen/photos/a.491966904290007.1073741828.490036061149758/610411979112165/?type=3&theater

Name: Mr Esben Lunde Larsen
Title: Minister for Environment and Food
EU party: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE)
Twitter: —
Facebook: www.facebook.com/esbenlundelarsen (Verified account)

In Denmark, two ministers are responsible for environment and climate change, but only Esben Lunde Larsen maintains a social media presence.

Name: Mr Lars Christian Lilleholt
Title: Minister for Energy, Utilities and Climate
EU party: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE)
Twitter: —
Facebook: —

[/mks_accordion_item]

[mks_accordion_item title=”Estonia”]

Meet minister Marko Pomerants, we’re not sure about the context of this post on his Facebook account.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1249904685027326

Name: Mr Marko Pomerants
Title: Minister of the Environment
EU party: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE)
Twitter: —
Facebook: www.facebook.com/marko.pomerants.9

[/mks_accordion_item]

[mks_accordion_item title=”Finland”]

Meet minister Kimmo Tiilikainen (left), who is seen meeting Al Gore at the UN climate summit in Paris in this post.

Name: Mr Kimmo Tiilikainen
Title: Minister of Agriculture and the Environment
EU party: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE)
Twitter: @Tiilikainen
Facebook: www.facebook.com/kimmo.tiilikainen.9

[/mks_accordion_item]

[mks_accordion_item title=”France”]

Meet minister Ségolène Royal (left), who can been seen meeting with Oxfam International executive director Winnie Byanyima in this photo.

Name: Ms Ségolène Royal
Title: Minister of the Environment, Energy and Marine Affairs, responsible for International Climate Relations
EU party: Party of European Socialists (PES)
Twitter: @RoyalSegolen (Verified account)
Facebook: www.facebook.com/segoleneroyal (Verified account)

[/mks_accordion_item]

[mks_accordion_item title=”Germany”]

Meet minister Barbara Hendricks (right), who can be seen meeting (from left) Luxemburg’s environment minister and two former politicians turned climate activists: former US vice-president Al Gore and former president of Ireland and Mary Robinson.

https://www.facebook.com/hendricks.barbara/photos/a.614760795214306.1073741827.547698145253905/1182378068452573/?type=3&theater

Name: Ms Barbara Hendricks
Title: Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety
EU party: Party of European Socialists (PES)
Twitter: —
Facebook: www.facebook.com/hendricks.barbara (Verified account)

[/mks_accordion_item]

[mks_accordion_item title=”Greece”]

Meet minister Giannis Tsironis, who can be seen in a field of hemp or marijuana plants in this photo.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=854055828032018

Name: Mr Giannis Tsironis
Title: Minister of Environment and Energy
EU party: European Green Party
Twitter: @TsironisGianni
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ytsironis

[/mks_accordion_item]

[mks_accordion_item title=”Hungary”]

Meet minister Miklós Seszták, who does not seem to maintain a social media presence.

Name: Mr Miklós Seszták
Title: Minister of National Development
EU party: European People’s Party (EPP)
Twitter: —
Facebook: —

[/mks_accordion_item]

[mks_accordion_item title=”Ireland”]

Meet minister Alan Kelly, who can be seen with some of his constituents in this photo.

https://www.facebook.com/alankellytd/photos/a.445009968990187.1073741828.444740862350431/546909312133585/?type=3

Name: Mr Alan Kelly
Title: Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government
EU party: Party of European Socialists (PES)
Twitter: @alankellylabour
Facebook: www.facebook.com/alankellytd (Verified account)

[/mks_accordion_item]

[mks_accordion_item title=”Italy”]

Meet minister Gian Luca Galletti (right), who can be seen with French environment minister Ségolène Royal (left) in this photo.

Name: Mr Gian Luca Galletti
Title: Minister for the Environment, Land and Sea
EU party: European People’s Party (EPP)
Twitter: @glgalletti
Facebook: —

[/mks_accordion_item]

[mks_accordion_item title=”Latvia”]

Meet minister Kaspars Gerhards, who can be seen signing the Paris Agreement in this photo.

Name: Mr Kaspars Gerhards
Title: Minister of Environmental Protection and Regional Development
EU party: Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists (AECR)
Twitter: @KasparsGerhards
Facebook: —

[/mks_accordion_item]

[mks_accordion_item title=”Lithuania”]

Meet minister Kęstutis Trečiokas, who does not seem to maintain a social media presence.

Name: Mr Kęstutis Trečiokas
Title: Minister of Environment
EU party: Alliance for Direct Democracy in Europe (ADDE)
Twitter: —
Facebook: —

[/mks_accordion_item]

[mks_accordion_item title=”Luxembourg”]

Meet minister Carole Dieschbourg (left) who can be seen with EU climate change commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete in this photo.

Name: Ms Carole Dieschbourg
Title: Minister for the Environment
EU party: European Green Party
Twitter: @DieschbourgC
Facebook: www.facebook.com/carole.dieschbourg

[/mks_accordion_item]

[mks_accordion_item title=”Malta”]

Meet minister Leo Brincat, seen in front of a Maltese and European Union flag in this photo.

Name: Mr Leo Brincat
Title: Minister for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change
EU party: Party of European Socialists (PES)
Twitter: @LeoBrincat
Facebook: www.facebook.com/leo.brincat

[/mks_accordion_item]

[mks_accordion_item title=”Netherlands”]

Meet minister Sharon Dijksma, who can be seen signing the Paris Agreement in this photo.

https://twitter.com/sharon_dijksma/status/723554335506980865

Name: Ms Sharon Dijksma
Title: Minister for the Environment
EU party: Party of European Socialists (PES)
Twitter: @sharon_dijksma
Facebook: —

[/mks_accordion_item]

[mks_accordion_item title=”Poland”]

Meet minister Jan Szyszko (centre), seen at a photo opportunity in this post.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=794811693957752

Name: Mr Jan Szyszko
Title: Minister of Environment
EU party: Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists (AECR)
Twitter: —
Facebook: www.facebook.com/janfeliks.szyszko

[/mks_accordion_item]

[mks_accordion_item title=”Portugal”]

Meet minister João Pedro Soeiro de Matos Fernandes, who does not seem to maintain a social media precense.

Name: Mr João Pedro Soeiro de Matos Fernandes
Title: Minister of Environment
EU party: Party of European Socialists (PES)
Twitter: —
Facebook: —

[/mks_accordion_item]

[mks_accordion_item title=”Romania”]

Meet minister Cristiana Pașca Palmer in this video message she left after signing the Paris Agreement in New York.

Name: Ms Cristiana Pașca Palmer
Title: Minister for the Environment, Waters and Forests
EU party: —
Twitter: —
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CristianaPascaPalmer (Verified account)

[/mks_accordion_item]

[mks_accordion_item title=”Slovakia”]

Meet minister László Solymos. This tweet by Malta’s environment minister shows him speaking with his Slovakian colleague Solymos (left).

Name: Mr László Solymos
Title: Minister of Environment
EU party: Party of European Socialists (PES)
Twitter: —
Facebook: —

[/mks_accordion_item]

[mks_accordion_item title=”Slovenia”]

Meet minister Irena Majcen (left), who can be seen meeting with EU climate change commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete in this photo.

Name: Ms Irena Majcen
Title: Minister for the Environment and Spatial Planning
EU party: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE)
Twitter: —
Facebook: —

[/mks_accordion_item]

[mks_accordion_item title=”Spain”]

Meet Isabel García Tejerina (centre), who can be seen recycling an empty wine bottle in this tweet.

Name: Ms Isabel García Tejerina
Title: Minister of Agriculture, Food and Environment
EU party: European People’s Party (EPP)
Twitter: —
Facebook: —

[/mks_accordion_item]

[mks_accordion_item title=”Sweden”]

Meet minister Åsa Romson, who can be seen signing the Paris Agreement in this photo.

Name: Ms Åsa Romson
Title: Minister for Climate and the Environment
EU party: European Green Party
Twitter: @asaromson (Verified account)
Facebook: www.facebook.com/asaromson (Verified account)

[/mks_accordion_item]

[mks_accordion_item title=”United Kingdom”]

Name: Mr Nick Hurd
Title: Minister of State for Climate Change and Industry
EU party: Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists (AECR)
Twitter: @nickhurdmp (Verified account)
Facebook: —

[/mks_accordion_item]

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Would you like to stay in the loop on what the 28 ministers get up to on social media in the run up to the COP22 climate summit in Marrakesh? Subscribe to the Daily Planet!

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