On Tuesday 21 October, European environment and climate ministers adopted the EU Council’s conclusions on preparations for COP30, which begins on 10 November in Belém (Brazil).
Although the text should have been adopted quickly, despite some minor points still being debated in the Committee of Permanent Representatives to the EU (Coreper) (see EUROPE 13731/5), Greece delayed its adoption. The country, which is one of the world’s major maritime powers, did not want the text to mention a “favourable reception” for the IMO’s (International Maritime Organization) ‘net zero emissions’ framework aimed at reducing emissions from maritime transport.
The adoption of this UN system was postponed for a year on 17 October, following opposition from the United States. The EU regretted this decision (see EUROPE 13733/27). During the vote on this postponement, Greece and Cyprus abstained.
After a slight attempt to change the wording in the morning, the Danish Presidency of the EU Council finally withdrew it completely at the end of the day, thereby ensuring unanimity.
Another minor change is the addition of a reference to 582 GW of new renewable energy capacity being added worldwide in 2024.
Nationally determined contributions. The conclusions call on all parties to the Paris Climate Agreement that have not yet done so to submit their ‘nationally determined contributions’ (NDCs) as a matter of urgency. They also call for these NDCs to be “aligned with emissions pathways that limit global warming to 1.5°C”.
“If you look at what the NDCs are going to look like, particularly those of the biggest emitters, it’s safe to assume that we won’t be up to the task”, said European Commissioner for Climate, Wopke Hoekstra, on his arrival at the Council.
He mentioned the United States, which has quite simply withdrawn from the Paris Agreement, and China, responsible for 30% of global emissions, which has proposed an NDC that “falls far short of what science says is necessary” (see EUROPE 13732/5).
However, the EU has not yet finalised its NDC.
Having not yet agreed on a climate target for 2040, EU Member States have simply validated a ‘statement of intent’ including an indicative range for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 compared to 1990 (between 66.25% and 72.5%) (see EUROPE 13721/10).
At the request of several Member States, leaders will discuss the 2040 target at the European Council on 23 October (see EUROPE 13734/13). The Danish Presidency of the EU Council then hopes that the European climate ministers will reach an agreement on the 2040 target, which will enable the 2035 target to be calculated directly, at a further extraordinary Environment Council scheduled for 4 November.
“The aim of the European Council, but also of the Environment Council, is to ensure that we set an ambitious but realistic target for 2040. The same applies for 2035”, said Wopke Hoekstra.
To see the conclusions: https://aeur.eu/f/j2q (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)