The EU at COP30: Staying the course

The EU is dedicated to paving the way toward a global transition that is clean, fair, and resilient. This transition aims to provide clean and affordable energy, create business opportunities, stimulate growth, enhance industrial competitiveness, and leave no one behind.

The EU's climate ambition is demonstrated by its updated targets and progress:

• The EU has already cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 37% since 1990, while growing its economy by almost 70%.
• This steady progress keeps Europe firmly on track to cut emissions by at least 55% by 2030 and to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.
• The EU has submitted its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) ahead of COP30, which aims to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by 66.25–72.5% below 1990 levels by 2035. This is an ambitious milestone on the path to a 90% net reduction by 2040.

The EU's role and contribution: 

The EU continues acting as a reliable and ambitious partner that is delivering at home, driving cooperation and decarbonisation abroad, and staying the course to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. The EU will continue to lead on climate finance and climate ambition.

The President of the European Council António Costa is attending the COP30 climate summit in Brazil:

"The EU remains firmly committed to a fair, balanced, and socially responsible climate transition — a transition that is pragmatic, economically efficient, and generates economic opportunities. The agreement reaffirms the global leadership of the EU in the fight against climate change."

Joining President Costa is the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen;

"At COP30 this week, we will underline our strong commitment to the Paris Agreement. The global clean transition is ongoing and irreversible. It is our priority to ensure that this transition is fair, inclusive and equitable. In Belém, we will listen to our global partners and discuss the key issues. To keep our shared goal in sight, we must recognise diverse national realities and work together to deliver."

European Commissioner for Climate Action, Wopke Hoekstra will also be present: 

"Europe’s climate ambition goes hand-in-hand with competitiveness and independence. We're also showing leadership on the international stage, with an extremely ambitious... At COP30 we need an outcome on mitigation that puts the world firmly on track to meet the Paris Agreement goals, and on adaptation to strengthen global resilience to the impacts already here."

The EEAS will be represented by the EU Special Envoy for Climate and Environment, Ambassador Anthony Agotha:

"Since the birth of the Paris Agreement 10 years ago, and despite all global upheaval, the world managed to dial the needle back on climate change while growing the economy. Even if collectively we must go farther, faster, and deeper, the transition is happening. The EU continues to lead on climate finance and climate ambition, staying the course.”

EU's Expectations and Call to Action

At COP30, the EU will call for a collective response to the ambition and implementation gaps of climate targets. Key expectations and negotiation points include:

• Accelerating the global clean energy transition, minimising the extent and duration of any overshoot beyond 1.5∘C.
• The full implementation of COP commitments, such as the first Global Stocktake (GST).
• Working towards reaching an agreement on the climate adaptation indicators under the UAE–Belém Framework for Global Climate Resilience.
• Advocating for a Global Carbon Pricing Coalition to bring together countries implementing or making tangible progress towards carbon pricing mechanisms.

References:

• COP30 Leaders Summit in Belém, Brazil – 6-7 November
• COP 30 in Belém, Brazil – 10-21 November
• Environment Council ahead of COP30 - Main Results
• Paris Agreement: the EU submits its updated NDC with an indicative target for 2035 to the UN ahead of COP30
• EU aims to advance global clean transition and implementation of the Paris Agreement at UN's COP30
• President Costa to travel to Latin America for COP30 and EU-CELAC summits
• Alocução de abertura do presidente António Costa na sessão plenária da COP30
• Discurso do presidente António Costa na sessão dedicada às florestas e oceanos da COP30
• 2040 climate target: Council agrees its position on a 90% emissions reduction