Summer is here and with it a plethora of climate moments. In the two months before Brussels settles down for the summer break, here are the six things we’re looking for from EU ministers, heads of states, governments and institutions:
1. Deliver an ambitious 2030 ‘Clean Energy for All Europeans’ package which supports a raised European 2030 climate target. Specifically, higher renewable and energy efficiency targets for 2030, alongside governance and regulatory frameworks that enable real economy delivery. By September the EU needs to be able to clearly state its intent to review its existing contribution and encourage other major economies to do the same.
2. Include a 1.5C scenario in the 2050 Strategy & commit to using 2050 to benchmark Paris compatibility across all EU institutional actions. Consistent with European Leaders’ demand for a long-term strategy in line with the Paris Agreement, the Commission should include a decarbonization pathway compatible with limiting global warming to 1.5°C in its 2050 strategy.
3. Articulate the risks of investing in new fossil fuel infrastructure and establish the recently published Sustainable Finance Action Plan as the international benchmark for financial reform. The whole of the EU, but especially France, Germany, the UK and Italy need to articulate the risks of investing in new fossil infrastructure in the G20. This includes the EU agreeing to end funding for fossil fuel infrastructure within the EU budget.
4. Use the Mogherini Climate Security Summit to build consensus on ways to manage climate security risks. Ministers and non-state actors should build expectations that Guterres September 2019 Climate Summit will deliver a significant climate security outcome and in addition kick-start a process of regular discussion climate-related security risk in the EU Foreign Affairs Council.
5. Showcase where low carbon transition has and can strengthen the EU economy and agree clean energy & finance cooperation at the EU-China Summit. The European Talanoa process is an opportunity to highlight existing low carbon resilient achievements, engage in a sincere discussion on implementation barriers and build confidence across all actors that raising EU ambition is possible. Later, agreements can be made at the EU-China summit on approaches to clean energy and finance cooperation.
6. Build alignment on a Paris rulebook that strengthens confidence in the multilateral approach to tackling climate change. Ministers should use the Petersberg Climate Dialogue and the MoCA to build alignment around the value of common Paris rules that enable implementation while also offering flexibility that allows developing countries to gradually improve on transparency over time. To further secure alliances, ministers should engage in good faith on finance, finding practical ways to ensure money flows to mitigation and adaptation.
