PRESS RELEASE
Brussels, October 27th 2021 – Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe urges European countries and the European Union at the upcoming summits of the G20 and the Climate Conference in Glasgow (COP26) to deliver on the Paris Agreement commitments to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C by 2030 in a fair and just way, protecting those most vulnerable within our borders and beyond.
After a gap year without a UNFCCC Summit, 5 COPs after the Paris Agreement was signed, and with the impacts of climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic felt all over, countries need to be held accountable and present concrete plans that bring the world on track to achieve its objectives, by stepping up their emissions reductions and increasing their climate finance. Specially rich countries like EU member states should not sit and wait, rather take the lead for their historical responsibility for creating anthropogenic climate change.
“Governments must do what only governments can do, which is increase their commitments to reduce greenhouse gases emissions and set the appropriate policy frameworks. After ratifying the Paris Agreement, countries in Europe need to show that their signatures were not just a dead letter and that they are doing and will do what they committed to. We are heading towards a climate catastrophe, therefore we are at a point where words and statements are simply not enough. Show us your plans!” said Chiara Martinelli, Director at CAN Europe.
“The Paris Agreement photo moment is stuck in our memories, now we need a new delivery moment to make us believe again that our governments are doing what is humanitarian: take climate action,” added Martinelli.
In particular, the EU should improve its legislation enabling it to overshoot the 55% emission reduction target towards -65% by 2030, while supporting EU neighbours to deliver on and enhance their own nationally determined contributions for 2030. Furthermore, the EU should be finding new finance to contribute to the $100 billion annual climate finance goal from rich countries to developing ones, to make up shortfalls from 2020-2025.
Despite the fact that the Paris Agreement barely touches upon fossil fuel phase-out, financing and trading, that’s the main and most effective way to reduce emissions worldwide. Hence, European countries and the EU should lead and engage in ambitious, multilateral pledges to phase out coal by 2030 and fossil gas by 2035, shifting towards a fully renewable energy system by 2040.
Notes to editors:
- 20/09. Blog post. Fair for 1.5°C? What can the EU’s ‘Fit for 55’ package do to support international climate action towards COP26.
- 14/10. Blog post. What if COP26 was all about consigning fossil fuels to history?
- 19/10. Blog post. Methane emissions from the energy sector – effective actions to tackle the ‘invisible menace’
- 20/10. Press release. NGOs ahead of COP26: Unprecedented solar and wind energy surge is needed to stabilise climate
- 21/10. Blog post. What the EU needs to do to advance climate change mitigation ambition at COP26.
- 26/10. Press release. UN Emissions Gap Report is an unequivocal call for urgent climate action across the world.
—ENDS—
COP26 Information:
A CAN Europe delegation will attend the COP26 in Glasgow, from October 30th to November 13th.
For journalists following the negotiations in person, we will hold a background press briefing on 9th November at 14:30 Glasgow time, place to be determined. This will be between week 1 and 2 to run you through the first week and provide you with information ahead of the final outcome. If interested in attending, please reach out to nina.tramullas@caneurope.org
Contacts:
- Nina Tramullas, Communication Coordinator, nina.tramullas@caneurope.org
- Rachel Simon, Climate and Development Policy Coordinator, rachel.simon@caneurope.org
- Sven Harmeling, International Climate Policy Coordinator, sven.harmeling@caneurope.org
