Climate Ambition Summit 2020: 55% emission reduction is Europe’s calling card
Concrete plans and new pledges made from 75 countries, businesses, sectors, cities at or just before the Summit, bring Paris Agreement goals a step closer, and highlight work ahead.
In her address, President von der Leyen stressed: “55% – That is now indeed Europe's calling card. I am glad that the 27 European Leaders have signed up to the European Commission's proposal for taking climate action to a new level of ambition.” “Climate change is more than a European issue. It is a human issue. And today, there is a global movement for climate action. A movement that counts on powerful nations but also on countless cities, NGOs, people of good will. Europe wants to contribute to the movement and make it grow,” she added.
On 11 December 2020, EU Heads of State or Government approved a new and more ambitious net greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of at least 55% for 2030 compared to 1990 levels. The European Commission had proposed this new target in September 2020, to put the EU on a balanced path towards climate neutrality by 2050. The new target EU leaders have committed to is a necessary step towards climate neutrality and provides much needed certainty to economies. Following the EU's leadership, governments around the world have made a number of important announcements to boost the fight against climate change in recent months.
At the Climate Ambition Summit 2020, countries set out new and ambitious commitments under the three pillars of the Paris Agreement: mitigation, adaptation and finance commitments. In particular, 24 countries have announced new commitments, strategies or plans to reach net zero or carbon neutrality. Commitments from the EU, China, Japan, South Korea, and Argentina have established a clear benchmark for other G20 countries.
In line with the Paris Agreement, the Parties shall review their voluntary national climate plans known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) every 5 years with a view to increasing a level of ambition. The leadership and strengthened NDCs delivered at the Summit mean we are now on track to have more than 50 NDCs officially submitted by the end of 2020, boosting momentum and forging a pathway forward for others to follow in the months ahead.
The virtual Climate Ambition Summit marked a major milestone on the road to the COP26 next November in Glasgow, the UK.
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Speech by President von der Leyen at the Climate Ambition Summit
