Five proposals for a new era of EU climate and energy diplomacy

On 16^th October, the European Commission will present a global vision with global energy and climate diplomacy objectives ahead of COP30. While global climate resilience and energy transition remain geopolitical priorities that bolster the EU’s physical and economic security, the geopolitics of these issues have changed fundamentally in recent months. In our submission to the European Commission’s consultation, E3G set out how the EU can adapt to these changes and maintain its role as a pathfinder in the global climate and energy transition.

We set out three flagship approaches, two horizontal enablers, and a precondition that together the EU can use to strengthen global climate cooperation and the EU’s geopolitical standing. Our recommendations can help the EU showcase itself as a reliable and stable partner amidst global turbulence, and provide a pathway for a cohesive approach to climate and energy diplomacy for the EU and its Member States. 

To act as a unifying guide, the vision and strategy should have the buy-in of EU institutions such as the Commission, European External Action Service (EEAS), Council and the European Parliament. To resonate with third countries, it should be bold, substantive and inspiring. 

Three flagship approaches

1. Uniting alliances for more powerful global impact. Alongside support for multilateral institutions in a broad sense, the EU should foster stronger links with climate progressive partners in Emerging Markets and Developing Economies (EMDEs). It should use its leverage as one of the largest global economies and a leader on climate and energy transition to enhance coherence across existing climate and energy transition alliances to help them be powerful collective forces that are more impactful than the sum of their parts.
2. Moving partnerships from ambition-setting to delivery. The EU should accelerate concrete delivery of new energy and climate partnerships to showcase model examples of what a new generation of partnerships can deliver right now in the real world. In its partnerships, the EU should look for further opportunities to diversify supply chains and strengthen diplomatic relationships.
3. Putting EU know-how to use for the global transition. The EU should more explicitly pair its regulatory and technical expertise with its external action tools to promote and facilitate higher standards globally, which can in turn bring soft and hard power benefits.

Two horizontal enablers

1. Reliability through financial certainty. The EU should make the most of its budgetary certainty and significant ODA commitments relative to other actors by aligning financial tools behind a clear, long-term vision for climate cooperation. 
2. Diplomacy by design. The EU should optimise internal Commission/EEAS structures and coordination mechanisms with Member States, so that work and communications on climate and energy transition are nimbler and strategically aligned. 

One precondition

To lead on international climate ambition and convince other emitters to raise their climate ambition prior to COP30, it is essential to enshrine a science-based net greenhouse gas reduction target of 90% by 2040 compared to 1990 levels in the European Climate Law, and to submit an ambitious EU NDC with a headline target derived from the 2040 target before COP30.  

A strong and coherent strategy can signal to the world and international partners that: 

• The EU is a reliable and stable partner – in turbulent times, the EU delivers steadily and transparently and offers strong and mutually beneficial co-created partnerships. It listens to and learns from its partners. 

• The EU is doubling down on climate and energy cooperation because driving the global climate and energy transition is a strategic choice. Climate and energy cooperation is delivering and the EU is fully on board with accelerating this given its critical role in delivering economic growth, energy security, geopolitical stability, and climate resilience.  

• The EU champions flexible, inclusive coalitions of the willing that focus on implementation, not just commitments, and that deliver real results on the ground. It works with its partners to make the best of multilateralism. 

• For Europe and its partners, investing in resilience is a security imperative and a shared strategic priority.  

NOTE: As the deadline for submissions was September 11, the submission does not reflect consequences for the submission of the EUs 2035 NDC following the “Statement of Intent” as agreed at the ENVI Council on 18 September.”