EU at COP27: Protecting our planet for future generations: strong common global action

Protecting our planet for future generations requires common and strong global action. The Council recently underlined the opportunities that ambitious climate action offers for the planet, the global economy and people, and the importance of ensuring a just transition towards sustainable climate-resilient economies and societies, leaving no one behind.

In preparation for the 27th UN Climate Change Conference (COP27), the EU and its Member States stress that global ambition must increase substantially to keep the 1.5°C target within reach, in line with the Paris Agreement. The world needs to reduce emissions by 30 gigatons annually by 2030 in order to limit temperature rise within that limit and thus stop the worst impacts.

Collectively, commitments under national climate action plans to reduce emissions and adapt to climate impacts, “Nationally Determined Contributions” (NDCs) and their updates, as referred to in the Paris Agreement, are currently insufficient. Therefore, all countries must present much more ambitious goals and policies, and major economies in particular must review and strengthen their NDCs.

This stance reflects public perception and support for global climate action, as recently confirmed by UNEP, indicating that between 2013 and 2018 an increasing number of people are viewing climate change as a major threat and that in most countries of the world there is popular support for rapid and large-scale emission reductions today.

Despite current energy challenges, the EU is on track and maintains its unwavering trajectory of climate ambition towards net-zero emissions by 2050. The EU is delivering on its Green Deal, in particular entering the adoption phase of the Fit for 55 legislative package, enabling it to meet the commitment to reduce its net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030.

A concrete proof of this irreversible EU green transition is the recent political agreement reached by the EU co-legislators on 27 October on CO2 emissions from new cars and vans that must be zero emissions from 2035. Other agreements will follow suit in the next two to three months, allowing the EU to implement its climate targets.

In addition, the Council calls for a gradual reduction in coal without decreasing and an end to inefficient fossil fuel subsidies to accelerate the energy transition and to deliver on the Glasgow Climate Pact in ways that benefit workers and communities.

At the same time, all countries must step up their adaptation efforts while urgently reducing emissions. Clear progress towards the Global Goal of Adaptation is key and therefore the EU will continue to support and engage constructively in the two-year Glasgow-Sharm-el-Sheikh work programme on the Global Goal of Adaptation. The purpose of the Objective is to:

• Gain a better understanding of how to improve adaptive capacity;
• strengthening resilience; and
• Reduce vulnerability to protect people, livelihoods and ecosystems.

The EU and its Member States are the largest contributors to international public climate finance and will continue to scale up their international climate finance towards developed countries’ target of mobilising at least USD 100 billion per year as soon as possible and until 2025 from a wide range of sources. The Council expects the target to be reached by 2023.

As climate change continues to generate impacts and risks leading to economic and non-economic loss and damage, the EU looks forward to the continuation of the Glasgow Dialogue to discuss provisions for financing activities aimed at avoiding, minimising and addressing these crucial aspects and reiterates its readiness to engage constructively with partner countries and, in particular, to offer swiftly concrete solutions to the challenges faced by the most vulnerable countries.

In this context, the Council welcomes the ‘Early warnings for all’ initiative launched by the UN Secretary-General with the aim of covering everyone on Earth with early warning systems within five years. It also welcomes the commitment of G7 leaders to work towards a Global Climate Risk Shield for poor and vulnerable countries and people, and commits to support these efforts, including through climate and disaster risk finance and insurance (CDRFI).

In addition, the EU is determined to work with all Parties to:

• Foster debate on the future of the UNFCCC
• Discuss ways to implement climate action in the agricultural sector in a sustainable way
• Enabling ambitious implementation of the Glasgow Work Programme on Climate Empowerment Action
• Addressing the gender dimension

The EU and EU Member States are working closely and working with governments, businesses and civil society, including youth representatives in partner countries, to explore possibilities for greater cooperation and ambition.

EU side events at COP27

In addition to advancing negotiations on combating climate change, the EU will host some 120 events at its Sharm el-Sheikh pavilion. More than 600 speakers will cover key topics such as climate change adaptation, climate finance, clean energy transition, low-carbon technologies for industry, sustainable land use and more.

Source: European Union