As part of a debate held in the European Committee of the Regions’ ENVE Commission on Monday 5 May over a draft opinion on the EU’s contribution to COP30 in Bélem, Brazil’s ambassador to the EU, Pedro Miguel Costa E Silva, expressed his hope that the EU would “join” Brazil in its level of ambition for its future ‘Nationally Determined Contribution’ (NDC).
“Brazil and the EU are committed to the fight against climate change. We may have differences of opinions and of positions, but we share the same general objective”, he declared.
Brazil was one of the first countries to submit its NDC, setting a target for 2035 of a reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions by 59% to 67% below the levels of 2005.
The European Union, for its part, has still not presented its NDC, given that the legislative proposal concerning the 2040 climate target is still pending (see EUROPE 13630/1, 13344/1). Once negotiated to be included in European climate legislation, this 2040 target will help to shape the EU’s ambitions for 2035.
The Brazilian ambassador also explained that this new COP, which will take place in November, was about “implementation”.
“We are no longer in negotiating mode. It is a time to generate results, and I am sure that the challenges ahead are clear to all of us”, he insisted.
He also reiterated that the COP discussions would not focus solely on “mitigation”, but would also largely focus on the financing of “adaptation” to climate change.
The person who drew up the draft opinion, Nadia Pellefigue (PES, French), highlighted the consequences of the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. “This sends out a negative signal and weakens confidence in multilateralism, but as in 2020, it must not put the brakes on our ambition”, she declared.
She also stressed the important role of cities and regions in strengthening collaboration.
“States, regions and cities in the United States are implementing policies on the ground that are helping to combat climate disruption. It is our capacity for dialogue as local authorities (...) that enables us to make progress when, at times, interstate dialogue has become more complicated”, she emphasised.
To see the draft opinion: https://aeur.eu/f/go0 (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)