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The Commission on 29 October adopted its annual Fuel Quality Report based on the 2019 reporting data submitted by EU countries. The report finds that the average greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity of fuels in the 28 reporting Member States had fallen by 4.3% compared to the 2010 baseline. The year-on-year progress achieved compared to 2018 was limited to a 0.6 percentage point decrease. Progress varies greatly across Member States, and almost all need to act swiftly to meet the target set out under the Fuel Quality Directive to reduce the GHG intensity of transport fuels by a minimum of 6% by 2020 compared to 2010.

From 1 to 12 November, the European Commission will take part in the UN Climate Change Conference, COP26, in Glasgow, UK. On 1-2 November, President von der Leyen will represent the Commission at the World Leaders Summit which officially opens COP26. Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans will lead the EU negotiating team. Commissioner Kadri Simson will also attend COP26, and the EU will host over 150 side events at the EU Pavilion.

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EU at COP26

International action on climate change

COP26-European Union side events

The Commission launched on 29 September five EU missions, a new and innovative way to work together and improve the lives of people in Europe and beyond. The Mission Adaptation to Climate Change will help prepare for unavoidable climate impacts and accelerate Europe’s transformation into a climate-resilient continent. The aim is to support at least 150 European regions and communities to move towards climate resilience by 2030.

The Prime Minister of Fiji Mr Frank Bainimarama, the President of the Marshall Islands Mr David Kabua and the Prime Minister of Samoa Ms Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa exchanged views with the Executive Vice-President in a virtual public conference. Representatives from the governments of Timor-Leste, Papua-New Guinea and Bhutan also contributed to the discussion.

Ministers from the 42 member countries of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) met in Cairo on the 4th of October for the 2nd UfM Ministerial Conference on environment and climate action. They agreed to work together and strengthen efforts in the Euro-Mediterranean region to tackle its many climate and environmental challenges. At a critical moment for the region ahead of the UNFCCC COP26 in Glasgow in November 2021, ministers stressed the importance of mainstreaming environment and climate action across all sectoral policies.

European Commission Executive Vice President Frans Timmermans and Vice Premier of the People's Republic of China Han Zheng held their second High-Level Environment and Climate Dialogue (HECD) on 27 September 2021 and reaffirmed that the HECD will continue to be a key platform to enhance actions and bilateral cooperation on environment and in the fight against climate change.

In preparation for the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) the European Union (EU) and the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS) met in an OACPS High-level Dialogue with Partners on 15 September 2021 to discuss common priorities for the Conference.

On 12 October, the Directorate General for Climate Action and the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) organised an event to present useful take aways from the Innovation Fund call for small-scale proposals, the revised state aid rules applying to clean tech projects, as well as relevant national aid schemes.

Let's protect the climate together as a team! We have joined forces with UEFA and a team of football greats using their skills against climate change.

The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation has announced the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy as the winner of the 2nd Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity. The Covenant was selected from 113 candidates in 48 different countries for its ability to enhance and support climate leadership across 11,000 different cities and local governments worldwide to advance towards a low-carbon economy and society. The award ceremony for the Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity will take place on 9th November at the COP26 in Glasgow.

The Commission has launched the second call for large-scale projects under the Innovation Fund, one of the world's largest programmes for the demonstration of innovative low-carbon technologies, financed by revenues from the auction of emission allowances from the EU's Emissions Trading System. With a budget of €1.5 billion it will finance breakthrough technologies for renewable energy, energy-intensive industries, energy storage, and carbon capture, use and storage.

The Commission adopted today its State of the Energy Union Reports for 2021, taking stock of the progress that the EU is making in delivering the clean energy transition, nearly two years after the launch of the European Green Deal. While there are a number of encouraging trends, greater efforts will be required to reach the 2030 goal of cutting net emissions by at least 55% and achieving climate neutrality by 2050.

Together with the annual State of the Energy Union Report, the Commission adopted on 26 October three reports on the progress of EU climate policies in 2020: the EU Climate Action Progress Report, the Carbon Market Report and the Fuel Quality Report.

The last CCMI survey for 2021 is now open. The focus this time is on land use, land use change and forestry, in addition to the regularly covered topics. Please submit contributions about your latest research until 22 October.

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