The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Member States adopted, on Monday 25 January, the conclusions of the Council of the European Union on EU climate and energy diplomacy. In particular, they call for a global phase-out of subsidies for fossil fuels and coal in power generation, with an immediate halt to the financing of new coal infrastructure in non-Member States as a first step.
As previously detailed in our lines (see EUROPE 12642/5), these conclusions differ somewhat from the versions of previous years, as they put a strong emphasis on energy diplomacy.
“We are very much aware that we are moving towards the end of the fossil fuel era (and) that we need to manage the energy transition”, said High Representative of the Union Josep Borrell at the end of the meeting, stressing the importance of supporting Africa, whose energy consumption will inevitably increase.
Recognising that global climate action is still insufficient to achieve the objectives of the Paris Agreement and the UN's 2030 agenda for sustainable development, the Council conclusions call on all EU partners to strengthen their ambition in these areas.
As far as its energy diplomacy is concerned, the EU's primary objective will be to speed up the global energy transition, the document says.
To achieve this, the EU will in particular discourage new investment in fossil fuels in third countries unless it is aligned with an ambitious climate-neutral trajectory, and promote energy efficiency and renewable technologies.
Furthermore, the conclusions underline the need to strengthen and mainstream work on the link between climate change and security and defence.
Ministers also agreed with their Japanese counterpart, Toshimitsu Motegi, to seek to develop a ‘green alliance’ between the EU and Japan to accelerate their action on climate and green transition, Mr Borrell said.
See Council conclusions: https://bit.ly/39dJ4RA (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)