Merz and Macron jeopardise EU credibility ahead of international climate conference COP30
UN deadline for national climate plans
Tomorrow (Wednesday, 24 September) is the United Nations deadline for submitting national climate action plans, so-called “nationally determined contributions” (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. The EU will let the deadline pass and has only submitted a non-binding statement of intent to reduce CO2 emissions. The climate plans set benchmarks ahead of the World Climate Conference (COP30) in Belém (Brazil) starting on 10 November. Following intensive lobbying by Friedrich Merz and Emmanuel Macron, EU heads of state and government have also postponed the EU member states' positioning on the EU climate target for 2040 until the next European Council end of October. Then, a single veto will be enough to prevent a clear positioning and prevent successful negotiations with the European Parliament in due time before COP30.
Bas Eickhout, Co-President of the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament, comments:
"The EU is lagging behind, being busy with itself. The German Chancellor is creating chaos and planning uncertainty for the economy and industry. Germany is blocking billions of euros of investment in future technologies, killing European industry.
What is needed now is reliable leadership from the EU on climate protection. China is just waiting to fill the climate policy gap and proclaim itself a pioneer in international climate protection. EU governments must not allow the President of the European Commission to go to the UN Climate Conference empty-handed."
Lena Schilling, Greens/EFA shadow rapporteur in the lead Environment Committee, comments:
"The delaying tactics of Friedrich Merz and Emmanuel Macron are jeopardising the credibility of the EU, sending a signal of uncertainty and weakening the EU's negotiating power ahead of the World Climate Conference. The German Chancellor and the French President are placing European climate protection in the hands of Putin´s friends Viktor Orbán and Robert Fico.
Anyone who believes that Viktor Orbán and Robert Fico will become climate protectors overnight is either deceiving themselves or attempting to sabotage climate action. The climate crisis kills. This summer alone, 16,500 people died in Europe as a result of heatwaves. The Paris climate pledge needs more credibility, and heads of state and government must get their act together and take a leading role in the climate emergency."
Background
The EU submits the climate action plan to the UN on behalf of the EU and its member states. This year, however, EU Environment Ministers were only able to agree on a non-binding statement of intent.
The European Commission has proposed reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 90 per cent by 2040 compared to 1990 levels. This target is intended to set out a clear path to climate neutrality by 2050 and provide planning security for industry, workers and investors. Without an agreement on reducing emissions by 2040, the EU lacks a coherent roadmap for the years between 2030 and 2050.
