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Climate Action

Cooperation on climate action with non-EU countries

Climate change is a global challenge that requires a decisive and confident response from all countries to achieve the objectives of the Paris Agreement, namely to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C.

The EU’s share in global emissions is 7% and declining, whereas the emissions of many countries, including major emitters, are still rising. For this reason, the EU actively engages with third countries to promote the green transition and decoupling growth from emissions.

Climate action is an integral part of the EU's foreign policy agenda. Through diplomacy and cooperation initiatives, the EU aims to advance global climate action and support partner countries in their efforts to tackle climate change. This includes the promotion of policy measures that support the transition towards climate neutrality or low-carbon economies (mitigation), as well as helping countries build climate resilience (adaptation). The European Green Deal serves as an internal compass to deepen the EU’s engagement on climate action worldwide and to share best practices with like-minded countries.

To deepen climate cooperation with other countries, the EU uses a range of instruments and tools.

  • High-Level Dialogues on climate-related issues are regular bilateral exchanges with selected partner countries, usedto prepare multilateral climate negotiations and to cooperate towards more ambitious domestic climate action. High-level dialogues are a beneficial instrument for fostering new or deepening existing technical cooperation at bilateral level. 
  • Green Alliances and Green Partnerships are bilateral frameworks to enhance dialogue and cooperation with key EU partner countries on climate action, a clean and fair energy transition, environment protection, and other areas of relevance to the green transition. 
  • Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs) are bilateral frameworks which help mobilise financial resources to support a country in its efforts towards new and more ambitious climate targets and lower greenhouse gas emissions. JETPs also provide assistance to the communities who need the most support with the transition, as they heavily depend on the production of fossil fuels. JETPs are bilateral frameworks between the International Partners Group, also known as G7 (Canada, Denmark, EU, France, Germany, Norway, UK, USA) and another country.
  • EU Climate Dialogues mobilise European know-how to support peer-to-peer learning. The project builds upon and complements climate policy dialogues and cooperation with major economies. It fosters exchanges and collaboration among national and sub-national administrations, business communities, academia and civil society stakeholders, supporting progress toward the Paris Agreement goals.