Debate: UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, the UK
Date: WEDNESDAY, 20 OCTOBER 2021
Speaker: Anže Logar
Language: EN

As you noted in your question, COP26 has four major objectives. First, is to substantively raise global emission reduction and commit to achieve net zero emissions in line with the latest scientific findings, in order to keep 1.5 degrees within reach. Second, to finalize the rulebook on the issue of carbon markets, as well as to agree on a common time frame, aligning the timelines of the climate pledges of all parties and ensure that global climate action is conducted in a transparent and accountable manner. Third, to strengthen global adaptation measures and building resilience and reducing vulnerability to climate change. And fourth, to increase the global efforts to meet the climate finance pledge of USD 100 billion a year to developing countries. For each of these objectives, the EU negotiation position is clear. As you know, the Council adopted earlier this month its conclusions on the EU position at COP26. The conclusion emphasised the extreme urgency of stepping up the global response to address the climate emergency and underlined the need for a just and fair climate position across the world. Regarding the rulebook on Article 6, the agreement to be reached at COP26 should ensure a robust accounting for the use of international carbon markets, avoid double counting and also guarantee environmental integrity and ambition. In Glasgow, the EU will also express its preference for a common time frame of five years for all parties, with a view to reaching consensus during the negotiation. Moreover, the EU will insist on transparency and accountability to be delivered through the Enhanced Transparency Framework, which will be essential to build and maintain trust among parties as we implement our commitments. Finally, as regards climate finance, the EU and its Member States will continue scaling up their contribution to international climate finance as part of the goal of developed countries to collectively mobilise USD 100 billion per year through 2025 and will continue to urge other developed countries to do the same. The EU and its Member States are the largest contributor of international public climate finance and since 2013 have more than doubled their contribution. I understand that the Commission and some Member States have further strengthened their pledges ahead of the meeting in Glasgow. In any event, the EU will engage constructively with the other parties to ensure a stronger climate finance goal for the post—2025 period. President, honourable Members, a number of parties, NGOs, young people gathered last month in Milan and the public at large have called on the COP to do more to address the climate emergency. They are right. The world is currently not on the path to keep global warming well below 2 degrees and keep 1.5 degrees within reach. Many more collective efforts are needed to keep our planet’s temperature within safe limits. In this context, at COP26, the EU wants to negotiate an ambitious and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement, and we call on all parties to come forward with strengthened national emissions reduction targets and international climate finance pledges.