Time is ripe to align EU policies with Paris Climate Agreement

(EurActiv, 9 Dec 2019) It’s the new Commission’s first weeks in office and climate is in the spotlight, with a European Green Deal expected to be tabled on 11 December. To succeed, the deal needs to enshrine increased climate ambition for the next decade, align the EU budget accordingly and boost EU support to developing countries, writes Wendel Trio.

Wendel Trio is Director of Climate Action Network Europe.

The new Commission President attended COP25 on her first day, a communication outlining further details on the European Green Deal will drop in their second week, closely followed by a European Council where climate and the EU budget are heading up the agenda.

The timing of these developments is crucial.

The IPCC’s Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C clearly shows the need to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C as a prerequisite to sustainable development and to limiting the worst impacts of dangerous climate change.

Action needs to start now. Delivering a European Green Deal can support the EU to get on track and lead the way on climate internationally. But getting it right depends on three key ingredients.

The hallmark of the European Green Deal package must be the revision of the EU’s 2030 climate target, its nationally determined contribution. Like all parties to the Paris Agreement, the EU has committed to revise its 2030 commitments by 2020.

It is vital for the EU to boost its ambition on climate in order to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C, and to contribute its fair share the bloc needs to reduce emissions by at least 65% by 2030.

Not only the level of ambition is crucial, but also the timing.

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EurActiv, 9 Dec 2019: Time is ripe to align EU policies with Paris Climate Agreement