As the Future of Europe summit in Sibiu, Romania, comes to an end, it is clear that EU leaders failed to respond to the growing public unrest and commit to make climate change the EU’s top priority. This is despite the momentum created by statements from eight EU Member States and a broad coalition of European stakeholders determined to push for more decisive climate action.
In reaction to the outcomes of the Sibiu summit, Wendel Trio, Director of Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe said:
“Many European leaders have heard the clarion call to action from EU citizens. It is regrettable that many still fail to recognize their responsibility to act. Especially Germany, who used to be a climate leader, still turns a blind eye to the climate emergency.
This is why a broad alliance of businesses, local authorities and climate campaigners launched the Climate Action Call urging the EU to increase emission reduction targets for 2030 and beyond and safeguard a just transition away from fossil fuels. We are determined to push for an agreement on increasing the EU’s climate action at the next meeting of European leaders in June.”
As stated in a letter from eight EU Member States prepared for the Sibiu summit, an agreement on achieving net zero emissions by 2050 and increasing the 2030 target needs to be reached at the June European Council, the last Council meeting before the UN Secretary General Climate Summit in September 2019. This is when all countries are expected to put forward new commitments for more climate action, as requested by UN Secretary General António Guterres.
ENDS
Ania Drazkiewicz, CAN Europe Head of Communications, ania@caneurope.org, +32 494 525 738
Notes
The Sibiu Declaration https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2019/05/09/the-sibiu-declaration/?utm_source=dsms-auto&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=The+Sibiu+Declaration
The Climate Action Call with a full list of signatories, and short, quality videos with statements of stakeholders supporting the Climate Action Call are available on the website: http://climateactioncall.caneurope.org/
Eight EU countries call for making climate action a priority for Europe https://caneurope.org/publications/press-releases/1766-eight-eu-countries-call-for-making-climate-action-a-priority-for-europe
Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe is Europe’s leading NGO coalition fighting dangerous climate change. With over 150 member organisations from 35 European countries, representing over 1.700 NGOs and more than 47 million citizens, CAN Europe promotes sustainable climate, energy and development policies throughout Europe.
