On Thursday 21 November, members of the European Parliament and parliamentarians from the 79 ACP countries, meeting in the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA) in Kigali, reaffirmed their commitment to support ambitious climate action at COP25 (Madrid, 12-13 December). They also called on leading countries in the global economy and major emitters of greenhouse gases to redouble their efforts to combat climate change - "an existential challenge facing humanity".
The urgent resolution they adopted for COP25 emphasizes the need for international cooperation and the duty of solidarity and joint action to respect the planet.
It calls on ACP countries and EU Member States to ensure the consistency of their positions for COP25.
It recalls that it is small developing island states and LDCs that suffer most from the impact of climate change.
The JPA undertakes to seek international consensus with a view to advancing work on the recognition of climate refugee status, the definition of criteria for that status and the principles for assistance to persons recognised as climate refugees.
Welcoming the growing calls, particularly by young people, for rapid action to limit the average increase in global temperatures to 1.5°C, the Assembly invites national and local governments in the EU and ACP countries to engage in dialogue with non-state players and involve them in the definition and implementation of climate action.
The resolution stresses the importance of taking into account the distributive effects of decarbonisation, particularly for poor populations, as well as the importance of achieving a fair transition which is accepted and supported by the public.
The JPA is concerned that the collective commitment by developed countries to mobilize $100 billion per annum by 2020 for climate action in developing countries is still not being met, in the absence of binding provisions.
It is pleased that COP24 expressed its readiness to exceed this figure when negotiating a new climate finance target that will start at COP25.
The JPA calls for an increase in global financial resources for adaptation measures in order to balance them better with those dedicated to mitigation measures.
It calls on EU Member States and ACP countries to phase out fossil fuel subsidies.
The JPA welcomes the European Parliament's efforts to ensure that at least 45% of the funding under the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) in the draft budget 2021-2027 supports climate and environmental goals.
It underlines the need for a common and harmonised strategy for the implementation of the Paris Agreement and sustainable development goals in full respect of the principle of coherence for development policies (trade, agriculture, energy and climate). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)