Meeting in Strasbourg for the European Parliament’s plenary session on Thursday 21 October, MEPs adopted (527 votes in favour, 134 against and 35 abstentions) a resolution calling for more ambition on climate change ahead of the 26th session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26).
Presenting the resolution (see EUROPE 12810/28) during a debate in Parliament on the eve of the vote, Dutch MEP Bas Eickhout (Greens/EFA) urged the world’s states to “step up their climate ambitions” at COP26, while stressing that countries’ current climate commitments would lead to an increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030.
Javi López (S&D, Spain), speaking on behalf of the S&D group, recalled the resolution’s provision that all G20 countries should commit to achieving climate neutrality by 2050.
While some MEPs felt that the EU should do more, most criticised the lack of efforts by the EU’s partner countries, in particular China, but also the US and Australia.
On behalf of the EPP group, Lídia Pereira (Portugal) called on the EU to play a leading role and to have “the courage to say that we are doing our part and others are not”, pointing to Chinese investments in new coal-fired power plants.
Making financial flows consistent with decarbonisation
On Wednesday evening, MEPs were voting on proposed amendments to the resolution.
In particular, they adopted (370 votes in favour, 318 against and 4 abstentions) an amendment from the Greens/EFA group calling on the European Commission to present a “comprehensive review” of the current situation regarding compliance by the EU and Member States with the Paris Agreement article on financial flows and to take all necessary measures to close any gaps.
This article states that financial flows must be made consistent with “a low greenhouse gas emission and climate change resilient development pathway”.
MEPs want the European Commission’s review and any necessary measures to be presented as part of the next climate and energy package due on 14 December.
There were no other major changes made to the text that was adopted by the Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) (see EUROPE 12809/7, 12810/28).
In particular, the resolution calls for progress in meeting the commitment of developed countries to mobilise $100 billion per year until 2025 to help developing countries address climate change, and for an end to direct and indirect fossil fuel subsidies by 2025.
A delegation from Parliament led by ENVI Committee Chair Pascal Canfin (Renew Europe, France) will visit Glasgow from 8-13 November.
See the resolution: https://bit.ly/3vxQpES (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)