The third debate held by European Environment Ministers on the EU's long-term climate strategy on Friday 4 October in Luxembourg was an opportunity to measure the progress made by Member States in identifying ways to support the fundamental transformation of the European economy, to ensure a just and equitable transition for all - countries, regions and populations - towards climate neutrality.
The announcement of Estonia's alignment with this target for 2050, made the previous day, was the most salient and encouraging news, since the number of countries that signing up for the climate neutrality target by this deadline broadens the number of Member States now ready, in principle, to 25.
Taking stock of the discussions so far, the President of the Council, the Finnish Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Krista Mikkonen, highlighted four main trends: climate neutrality by 2050 is a widely shared objective; transformation requires policy coherence; transition must be inclusive, just and socially acceptable; instruments to generate investment are essential.
From Friday's ministerial debate, it became clear that the range of incentives and framework to be prepared to support the transition is becoming more apparent.
Suggestions range from the future budget framework 2021-2027 for the modernised EU (focusing on cohesion funds, climate, research, development policy and innovation) to financial support for regions heavily dependent on coal, as well as training for the least specialised workers to give them access to skills.
As for the measures and actions to be strengthened in the short and medium term to make a decisive contribution to climate neutrality, ministers have often mentioned, following Denmark's example, the future 'European Green Deal' to promote the green transition in all sectors (energy, transport, industry, agriculture, circular economy).
For countries such as Germany, this transition requires an energy system based on renewables, investment in the storage of renewables, the abandonment of coal, but also the integration of transport and heating into the ETS and a minimum carbon price. Measures to encourage digital technologies to increase demand for goods and services, as well as the policy of green mobility through vehicle sharing, were also mentioned.
The Finnish Presidency will continue to work intensively, in the firm hope that the discussion, which is reaching its concluding stages, will lead to an agreement in December.
Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete said he was "happy that Estonia is now in the starting blocks, as it has had a little trouble getting off the ground".
He expressed his hope that the EU would be able to submit the long-term strategy to the UNFCCC secretariat in early 2020. "The year 2020 will be used to provide a European approach and ensure that other international partners submit their plans by the end of 2020, as provided for in the Paris Agreement", he said.
And he highlighted that at the New York summit, 77 countries committed themselves to carbon neutrality by 2050. "In the short term, we are ready to implement our 2030 target," he added. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)