On Thursday, 5 March, EU environment ministers adopted the decision that will enable the EU and its Member States to quickly submit the EU's long-term climate strategy on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, in accordance with the requirements of the Paris Climate Agreement.
This strategy will now be forwarded to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), as required by the Paris Agreement (see EUROPE 12434/10).
The EU's strategy recalls the full commitment of the EU and its member states to the Paris Agreement and its long-term goals. It refers to the endorsement by the European Council, as reflected in the conclusions of its meeting in December 2019 (see EUROPE 12389/1), of the objective of achieving a climate-neutral EU by 2050.
The text is succinct, as many measures have yet to be decided within the framework of the European Green Deal. The text to be submitted to the UN states that by agreeing and delivering on ambitious social and economic transformation, the EU and its Member States are aiming to inspire global climate action and demonstrate that moving towards climate neutrality is not only imperative but also feasible and desirable.
Individual Member States are also required to prepare their own national strategies for submission to the UNFCCC secretariat. The EU urges all parties to the Paris Agreement to communicate their long-term strategies by 2020, in accordance with the Paris Agreement.
The conclusions of the European Council held in December are attached to the decision. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)