Action, unity, determination will be the EU's watchwords for the Climate Action Summit on 23 September and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Summit in New York, European Commissioner for Energy and Climate Action Miguel Arias Cañete told MEPs on Tuesday 17 September.
In view of these summits, which will take place alongside the United Nations General Assembly, he outlined the main lines of the EU's position (see EUROPE 12325/7). In response to Antonio Guterres' call for plans to increase ambition, not speeches, the Commissioner said the EU will lead by example, since once its binding 'Climate/Energy' legislation is implemented, it can expect a 45% reduction in emissions by 2030, that it is "on the right track" to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 and that the necessary massive investments can be guaranteed with 25% of the expenditure foreseen in the draft budget (320 million euros) and the resources of the European Strategic Investment Plan.
His conviction that the EU is a "world leader" did not convince all MEPs, but the desire for the EU to be ambitious and lead by example has often come up in the debate.
"On climate, the younger generation is pushing us to do more. We must take care to be ready for the required changes in production and consumption. As for the oceans, colleagues must be made to understand that multilateralism is essential", said Mairead McGuinness (EPP). She also warned against retreating from some SDGs, such as the one on world hunger, for example, and called for more coherence and coordination in the future.
On the S&D side, Miriam Dalli of Malta said that the EU must agree on an ambitious plan, with sufficient resources to achieve the objectives of the Paris Agreement, that it is "currently not on track to achieve". If climate change requires a global response, it is "only if the EU sets an example, that progress can be made", both on this front and on the SDGs.
"The fight against climate change is not a question of ideology, but of survival", said Maria Soraya Rodriguez Ramos (Renew Europe), stressing the urgent need to adopt unprecedented actions, failing which global warming will exceed 3°C by the end of the century. The New York summit is timely, as there is still time to act, she said, calling for all leaders to present concrete decarbonisation commitments to contain global warming to 1.5°C. According to her, "only the EU can lead this change within the framework of multilateralism". Jordan Bardella (ID) refutes this. He strongly criticised "beautiful speeches", while UN institutions have "launched mad globalisation" and the EU, according to him, "is paving the way for an agricultural and ecological disaster with the agreement with Mercosur".
"Are we ready to act on the basis of a realistic assessment of the capacity for action of each Member State? Do we have the money to plan concrete investments? And what will happen if other countries do not follow us?", asked Anna Zalewska (ECR).
As a global week of citizen street protests begins on 20 September, Bas Eickhout (Greens/EFA, Netherlands) warned of the risk of disappointment if the EU does not commit itself to raising its 2030 target to at least a 55% reduction in emissions next year, when science calls for 65%.
On behalf of the GUE/NGL, Petros Kokkalis called for the EU to adopt a good battle plan to combat climate change by tackling poverty and climate inequalities and placing climate objectives and SDGs in a scientific framework and in the European Semester. "Nothing less is expected of Mr Timmermans and a new, greener, more socially aware EU Council". (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)