The EU must send a message of ambition to the world at the Climate Action Summit convened on 23 September in New York by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, showing that it already has the most ambitious contribution to the Paris Agreement and that it is on track to adopt a long-term climate strategy in 2020, said European environment and climate ministers at their informal meeting in Helsinki on Thursday 11 July.
The Finnish Presidency of the EU Council, which aims to consolidate the EU's position as a world leader in climate change, invited them to share their views on internal EU climate discussion and the enhancement of a global ambition (see EUROPE 12286/8).
Everyone knows that it will not be until the end of the year that the European Council finalises its guidelines for the EU's long-term strategy, which could aim for climate neutrality by 2050, if the solidarity and financial support measures are there to ensure a fair transition and reassure the four concerned countries (see EUROPE 12279/2).
The most ambitious contribution. "We must continue to lead by example on climate issues and raise our own ambitions. Our goal is to reach a common understanding of this long-term strategy by the end of the year. It will not be easy. The debate between Member States will continue until the October Environment Council", Finnish Minister Krista Mikkonen said at the end of the meeting, ensuring that the Finnish Presidency "will address all concerns".
At the global level, ministers considered that the EU's proposal - a reduction of at least 40% in its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 - based on a binding legislative framework is a very ambitious contribution. "Ambition is implementation. This is a clear message to the Summit, but it is clear that we must all do better. The EU must be ready to review its 2030 target. Many member states also hoped that the Commission would prepare an analysis to support this work,", explained Ms Mikkonen.
It will not be a question of raising the EU's 2030 target in New York, but of inviting the major industrialised economies to follow in the EU's footsteps. Mr Guterres, on the other hand, was counting on the EU to announce a 55% reduction in its emissions by 2030.
"The 2030 target will be updated when we have a common understanding of the 2050 strategy. We can tell the Secretary General that we have initiated the discussion to update this objective", Ms Mikkonen told EUROPE.
The Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, Miguel Arias Cañete, said to the ministers that the EU was on track to endorse a strategy for climate neutrality in 2050. He welcomed the fact that the Finnish Presidency continues to organise debates in the EU Council's sectoral configurations, which will make it possible to make progress towards an agreement on the conditions for an effective, efficient and equitable transition.
Encourage the major G20 economies to do more. "The EU has a 2030 target that should lead to a 45% reduction in its emissions, it has the most ambitious contribution and an agreement on a 2050 climate strategy is within reach", he argued, stressing that "if the major economies could announce the intention to do the same and table their own long-term strategy for 2020 at the UN, it would show that we have listened to science and citizens".
For him, the process of agreement on the EU's long-term strategy is exemplary for the functioning of an inclusive democracy and a success in itself. G20 partners should be encouraged to initiate similar processes based on scientific evidence, economic arguments and facts.
All agree that the UN Summit will be an important opportunity for governments and non-governmental stakeholders to take a major step forward in this collective ambition.
"This discussion on European and international climate policy comes at a crucial time. Everyone is aware that climate change is becoming increasingly important to many people around the world. We are witnessing heat waves all over the world. It is therefore clear that we must do more than we have done so far. We are discussing the new Commission. This is the first time that climate policy has raised a huge amount of political awareness", German Secretary of State Jochen Faschbart said on the sidelines of the session.
Carole Dieschbourg, Luxembourg's Green Minister for the Environment, would have liked to see maximum ambition. "We have to take care the EU is seen as a leader when it comes to climate protection. We have to send out the message that we stick to the 1.5 degree, that we are coherent to the science so that climate neutrality will be reached at the latest by 2050 and that we will be able to raise ambition also for 2030 NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions). So I think the discussion will be crucial to show the readiness of the EU to take the next step," she stressed on her arrival at the EU Council.
Denmark's new Environment Minister, Dan Jorgensen, said his government has "very progressive targets" and aims to reduce Denmark's emissions by 70% by 2030.
Bulgarian Minister Neno Dinov described the Finnish Presidency's programme as "extremely ambitious on climate change", questioning its feasibility. For him, "the most important topic of this meeting is the circular economy to change the basis of the economy over the next decade". This subject will be discussed by the ministers on Friday. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)