Sunday

28th May 2023

'Now, not 30 or 40 years' von der Leyen warns ahead of COP26

  • The EU remains optimistic about reaching a compromise on the Paris Agreement rulebook at COP26 (Photo: mw238)
Listen to article

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen called on Thursday (28 October) for climate leadership, warning that next week's UN climate summit in Glasgow (COP26) is "a moment of truth".

The statement comes just a few days after the UN warned a "leadership gap" in climate action is undermining the global response to halt global warming.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Become an expert on Europe

Get instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

"We need leadership for credible commitments for decarbonisation to reach the goal of net-zero by mid-century, but also sufficient commitments to cut the emissions this decade," von der Leyen said, pointing out the "especial responsibility" of the G20 countries ahead of their meeting this weekend.

Despite climate diplomacy and national "net-zero" pledges, the world currently is on a track for global temperature rise of 2.7 degrees this century – far from the 1.5-degree limit advocated by scientists and recently defined by UN chief António Guterres as "the only liveable future for humanity".

Von der Leyen said that the EU will show global leaders that economies can grow while cutting emissions, pointing out that "the longer we wait, the more expensive it [the transition] will get". The EU has cut emissions by 31 percent since 1990.

"It is not a question of 30 or 40 years. It is now. It is this decade where we have to get better, otherwise we risk to reach irreversible tipping points," she added.

'Eight years' warning

The UN warned this week that the world has just eight years to halve global greenhouse gas emissions – prompting Guterres to say that global warming could become "an existential threat to humanity."

During the climate negotiation in Glasgow, the EU is expected to push rich countries to deliver on the longstanding commitment to give $100bn (€85bn) a year in climate financing to help developing countries cope with the impact of climate change.

Latest data show a $20 billion shortfall to the 2020 target.

"Climate finance is a question of credibility and solidarity," von der Leyen said, adding that the EU is already contributing with more than $25bn per year.

Another key debate will be finalising the Paris Agreement rulebook - needed to make "a crucial and absolutely necessary change" during the next decade, the chief of the EU executive said.

The EU remains optimistic about reaching a compromise. But civil society argues that no deal on the procedures of the Paris deal, would be better than a bad deal.

Meanwhile, the EU commission announced several initiatives to be launched during COP26.

Von der Leyen said 60 countries have now joined the US and EU-led initiative to reduce global methane emissions, the second-biggest contributor to global warming, after carbon dioxide.

And she also announced a partnership with South Africa to accelerate the country's coal phase-out and €1bn to the Global Forest Pledge – including €250m to protect Congo's forest basin.

COP26 will take place under an intense public scrutiny, as the majority of Europeans (58 percent) think their governments will fail to cut emission by 2050, according to a new survey published by the European Investment Bank.

Analysis

COP26 climate summit: could it be different this time?

World leaders and national negotiators from almost 200 countries will meet in Glasgow next month to discuss global cooperation in response to the climate change emergency. What outcome can be expected? Why does it matter?

EU vows to uphold Paris climate ambition amid scientists' fears

EU leaders called for an "ambitious global response to climate change" to keep the 1.5 degrees global warming limit within reach - after scientists concluded that the projected global increase in fossil-fuel production for 2030 is inconsistent with this target.

COP25 ends with no deal on carbon markets

The outcome of the UN climate conference in Madrid (COP25) has been described as a "catastrophe" by environmental groups, since countries failed to agree on article six of the Paris Agreement, referring to the carbon markets system.

Opinion

COP26 and the Congo rainforest - a 'Made in Europe' problem

After it was discovered that the Amazon no longer absorbs carbon, the Congo rainforest – soaking up some 1.2bn tonnes of carbon dioxide each year – is arguably one of our last lines of defence against climate change.

EU: national energy price-spike measures should end this year

"If energy prices increase again and support cannot be fully discontinued, targeted policies to support vulnerable households and companies — rather than wide and less effective support policies — will remain crucial," the commission said in its assessment.

Opinion

EU export credits insure decades of fossil-fuel in Mozambique

European governments are phasing out fossil fuels at home, but continuing their financial support for fossil mega-projects abroad. This is despite the EU agreeing last year to decarbonise export credits — insurance on risky non-EU projects provided with public money.

Latest News

  1. How the EU's money for waste went to waste in Lebanon
  2. EU criminal complicity in Libya needs recognition, says expert
  3. Europe's missing mails
  4. MEPs to urge block on Hungary taking EU presidency in 2024
  5. PFAS 'forever chemicals' cost society €16 trillion a year
  6. EU will 'react as appropriate' to Russian nukes in Belarus
  7. The EU needs to foster tech — not just regulate it
  8. EU: national energy price-spike measures should end this year

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. International Sustainable Finance CentreJoin CEE Sustainable Finance Summit, 15 – 19 May 2023, high-level event for finance & business
  2. ICLEISeven actionable measures to make food procurement in Europe more sustainable
  3. World BankWorld Bank Report Highlights Role of Human Development for a Successful Green Transition in Europe
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersNordic summit to step up the fight against food loss and waste
  5. Nordic Council of MinistersThink-tank: Strengthen co-operation around tech giants’ influence in the Nordics
  6. EFBWWEFBWW calls for the EC to stop exploitation in subcontracting chains

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. InformaConnecting Expert Industry-Leaders, Top Suppliers, and Inquiring Buyers all in one space - visit Battery Show Europe.
  2. EFBWWEFBWW and FIEC do not agree to any exemptions to mandatory prior notifications in construction
  3. Nordic Council of MinistersNordic and Baltic ways to prevent gender-based violence
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersCSW67: Economic gender equality now! Nordic ways to close the pension gap
  5. Nordic Council of MinistersCSW67: Pushing back the push-back - Nordic solutions to online gender-based violence
  6. Nordic Council of MinistersCSW67: The Nordics are ready to push for gender equality

Join EUobserver

Support quality EU news

Join us