EU, US eye ‘Green Technology Alliance’ at Brussels summit

(EurActiv, 15 Jun 2021) The United States and European Union will pledge closer cooperation on fighting climate change at a summit on Tuesday (15 June), but will steer clear of setting a date to stop burning coal, according to a draft joint statement seen by EURACTIV.

US President Joe Biden will meet the chief of the European Union’s executive, Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President Charles Michel on Tuesday (15 June) for a summit tackling issues from trade to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The meeting marks the return of EU-US collaboration on fighting climate change, after former President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the Paris Agreement and rolled back environmental regulations.

The United States and EU are the world’s second- and third- biggest emitters of CO2, respectively, after China. A draft of their summit statement, seen by EURACTIV, outlines plans for a transatlantic alliance to develop green technologies, and points to sustainable finance as an area for closer transatlantic collaboration.

“Green technology alliance”

To ensure the Paris Agreement is implemented, both sides “commit to establish an EU-US High-level Climate Action Group” aimed at closer cooperation on climate policy.

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EurActiv, 15 Jun 2021: EU, US eye ‘Green Technology Alliance’ at Brussels summit