The MEPs responsible for the negotiations in Parliament, ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), which will be held in November 2026 in Antalya, Türkiye, are calling for the development of “a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty and time-bound plans to phase out fossil fuel subsidies and fossil fuel production”.
A draft motion for a resolution was prepared by Lídia Pereira (EPP, Portuguese, who chaired the delegation to COP30 in Belém), Heléne Fritzon (S&D, Swedish), Marie-Luce Brasier-Clain (Patriots for Europe, French), Alexandr Vondra (ECR, Czech), Emma Wiesner (Renew Europe, Swedish), Pär Holmgren (Greens/EFA, Swedish), Lynn Boylan (The Left, Irish), Anja Arndt (ESN, German), all members of Parliament’s Committee on the Environment and Climate Change (ENVI).
This does not, however, mean that the MEPs behind the resolution agree with its content, but rather that they are taking part in the negotiations.
A COP31 influenced by Santa Marta. COP31 will be held in Türkiye from 9 to 20 November 2026, seven months after the First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels, which was held in Santa Marta, Colombia, and brought together 57 nations.
A ‘roadmap’ for phasing out fossil fuels is currently being drawn up by the Brazilian Presidency of COP30. The aim is to secure the support of as many states as possible, at a time when agreements at COPs are becoming increasingly difficult to achieve because of recurring blockages by fossil fuel-producing countries.
Recommendations. In their resolution, the MEPs urged the United States, for the second time, to “reconsider its withdrawal [from the Paris Agreement]”. They regret that negotiations on a global treaty on plastic pollution are stalling. They are also urging the countries that have not submitted their national CO2 emissions reduction plans (NDCs), with targets for 2035 - that is 89 countries - to do so as quickly as possible.
Lastly, they are calling for the UNFCCC (the UN body that organises the COPs) to be protected from influence, suggesting a model based on that of the World Health Organization to guard against the influence of the tobacco industry. To see the draft resolution: https://aeur.eu/f/m2d (Original version in French by Nadège Delépine)