Mr. President,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the EU and its Member States.

The Candidate Countries Turkey, the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania, the country of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidate Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the Republic of Moldova and Georgia, align themselves with this statement.

Thank you for convening today’s briefing.

At the start of COP26, the EU has set itself three objectives for this vital conference:

First, to put sufficient pressure on Parties to step up their commitments to reduce emissions within this decade, with a view to keep the 1,5C goal within reach.

Second, to reassure developing countries that donors remain committed to reach the target of 100 billion dollars per year through 2025.

And third, to complete the rulebook enabling a transparent implementation of the Paris agreement by all Parties.

We have made progress on all three objectives.

COP26 has agreed for the first time to accelerate efforts towards the phase-down of unabated coal power and phase-out of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies, and recognised the need for a just transition.

Many more countries announced climate neutrality commitments since the last COP in Madrid two years ago.

COP26 also completed the technical negotiations on the Paris Agreement Rulebook, which fixes the transparency and reporting requirements for all Parties.

Looking ahead, the UN system as a whole, the UN here in New York, and this case ECOSOC, have to contribute to the implementation of the numerous agreements – both binding and voluntary - announced in Glasgow.

We have to work for the implementation of the many commitments made at the High-Level Dialogue on Energy on 24 September, as well as at the High-Level Meeting Delivering Climate Action on 26 October.

We note the plan of the Secretary General to set up a High Level Expert Group to establish clear standards to measure and analyze net zero commitments from non-state actors, and are eager to see this group up and running.  

Over the next months, there is hard work ahead. The EU will continue to support the global climate agenda and the work of all non-party stakeholders in the fight against climate change.

I thank you.