CAN Europe calls for scaling up EU climate action ahead of the Paris climate summit
The EU’s negotiating position for the global climate talks in Paris in December, adopted by its Environment Ministers today, calls for climate neutrality – a full phase out of all greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, it falls short of providing details on the EU’s contribution to achieve this.
In reaction to the conclusions of the Environment Council adopted today, Wendel Trio, director of Climate Action Network Europe said:
“The call for a phase out of emissions from all the EU Member States is an important signal that the EU still wants to reach a meaningful Paris agreement, which should provide an action plan for a transition to a fossil fuel free economy. The unanimous decision to end carbon pollution is what we expect from leaders at a time of a climate crisis. However, if we are to tackle climate change before it spins out of control, the EU needs to support its allies in the developing countries in their pledge for completing this transition by the middle of this century.
We welcome the fact that the EU continues to call for a binding and transparent international climate regime. However, at the same time its negotiating position has blind spots which undermine the EU’s leadership role in climate negotiations.
EU Ministers failed to provide details on how they will scale up climate action, so that the transition to the fossil fuel free economy happens at a scale and pace needed to avoid the worst consequences of climate change. They did not specify what additional measures the EU will take before 2020, when the Paris agreement comes into force. We do not have clarity on how and when the EU will increase its 2030 climate target, which does not represent its fair share of the global effort for tackling climate change. Finally, the Ministers failed to provide clarity on what the EU has to offer to developing countries in terms of provision of climate finance for empowering them in their efforts to tackle climate change as well as support for adaptation and loss and damage.”
EU: put your weight behind renewables! from Climate Action Network Europe on Vimeo.
Contact
Wendel Trio, CAN Europe Director, wendel@caneurope.org, +32 473 170 887
Ania Drazkiewicz, CAN Europe Communications Coordinator, ania@caneurope.org, +32 494 525 738
Notes
Print quality pictures from an action staged outside of the meeting of the Environment Council today available at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/wwf_eu/21499270842/in/album-72157658002361661/
Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe is Europe’s largest coalition working on climate and energy issues. With over 120 member organisations in more than 30 European countries – representing over 44 million citizens – CAN Europe works to prevent dangerous climate change and promote sustainable climate and energy policy in Europe.
