Energy

EU Parliament Declares Climate Emergency


Ahead of the start of a major UN climate summit in Madrid next week, the European Parliament today adopted a resolution declaring a state of climate emergency in the European Union.

“The fact that Europe is the first continent to declare a climate and environmental emergency, just before the [UN summit], when the new Commission takes office, and three weeks after Donald Trump confirmed the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, is a strong message sent to citizens and the rest of the world,” said Pascal Canfin, the chair of the parliament’s environment committee, who initiated the resolution.

The resolution, passed by a vote of 429 to 225, comes ahead of a crucial month in the global battle against climate change, with the adoption of an unprecedentedly ambitious EU strategy and the adoption of a rulebook for the Paris Climate Agreement at the Madrid summit.

“I will also be vigilant to ensure that the political proposals made in the coming weeks are in line with the urgency to find common solutions to the unfolding climate and environmental crisis, particularly in the context of the European Commission’s Communication on the Green Deal in early December,” Canfin added.

Similar climate emergency declarations have already been made in several EU member states, including Spain, France and the United Kingdom. Outside Europe only Canada, Argentina and Bangladesh have declared a climate emergency.

The resolution will have more symbolic effect than practical impact, and is designed to pressure EU governments to adopt a commitment for all of the EU to reduce emissions to net zero at a meeting of EU national leaders Brussels on 12 December, one day before the conclusion of the UN climate summit in Madrid. The legislation has so far been vetoed by Poland and a handful of Eastern European allies, but it is thought that this veto can be overcome now that they have been offered a just transition fund to help coal-dependent regions.

The vote comes one day after the European Parliament confirmed the new Commission under the EU’s new president Ursula von der Leyen. She has promised to make climate change and the digital transformation the two main focus areas of her new administration, which will start work on Monday.

The climate work will be kicked off with her European Green Deal strategy, expected to be adopted on 11 December. The timing is also intended to put pressure on Poland ahead of the EU summit the following day.

The European Parliament also today adopted a position calling on global negotiators gathered at the UN summit in Madrid to complete the rulebook for the Paris Climate Agreement, and for the EU to raise its Paris pledge beyond the current commitment of at least 40% emissions reductions by 2030 to 55%, compared to 1990 levels. 





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