Dear readers,
While most of us will be glad to see the back of this exceptionally tough year, 2020 has nonetheless seen significant promise and progress in terms of climate action. Only this past week, we marked five years of the Paris Agreement - the landmark accord, which has brought together all nations around the common cause of combatting climate change and adapting to its effects. The magnitude of the agreement cannot be understated. Its ambitious international framework underpins the EU’s efforts on keeping global temperature rise below 2°C, and the aim to limit it to 1.5 degrees to reduce the risks and the impacts of climate change. Implementation on the ground has been slow for a while in many parts of the world, and clearly it remains globally insufficient. Yet, we are finally seeing now signs that this may be changing. There have been very positive signals sent and commitments made on this front and we can hope for more ahead of next year’s COP26 in Glasgow. This will be the moment to take stock and measure our collective progress.
In the EU, we are moving in the right direction. As you may have seen in last month’s Climate Action Progress Report, EU greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions fell to their lowest level in three decades in 2019 - 24% below 1990 levels. That translates to a 3.7 % reduction in emissions for the year, while GDP grew by 1.5% over the same period. While we still have a long way to go to reach climate neutrality by 2050, the report confirms once again that it is possible to both reduce emissions and grow the economy.
We want to continue along the path of emissions reduction paired with economic growth on which we started in the 1990s. This trajectory will be the foundation of the green recovery from the crisis, backed by the historic €750 billion recovery package NextGenerationEU. To pick up the pace, we announced in September the plan to reach a net 55% drop in GHG emissions over the next decade. I’m delighted that the Europen Council endorsed our proposal at their last summit of the year. In the words of the President, this is a wonderful way to celebrate the first anniversary of the European Green Deal, and it puts us on a clear path towards climate neutrality. At the European Commission’s Directorate General for Climate Action, we are already working full steam ahead to prepare the ‘fit for 55’ legislative proposals from the climate legislation for June 2021 to help us get there.
Nor is Europe the only place in the world where there are signs of change. Japan has announced the same long-term objective: climate neutrality (net-zero GHG emissions) by 2050, and that this should be written into law (as we are doing with the Climate Law that Council and Parliament are examining). Korea has announced its aim to be CO2-neutral by 2050, and China by 2060. Canada has tabled a draft law aiming for climate neutrality 2050, and the UK has reaffirmed its commitment to the objectives it had as a member of the EU. South Africa too has stated that CO2 neutrality by 2050 is the country’s ultimate goal. This is all very recent, and each country must now translate these commitments into laws, regulations, investments, etc. – as Europe has been doing for the past two years, but UN Secretary-General António Guterres was right when, on the day of the Paris Agreement 5th anniversary, he spoke of an emerging “net-zero coalition”.
Of course, laws and targets are all very well and good, but it is our duty to bring all Europeans along with us. That’s why we have just launched the European Climate Pact. The pact invites you to learn more about the stakes involved and what we can all do to make a difference. We want to help people and organisations make even small changes to their lives for the good of the planet, inspiring others in turn to do the same. The Climate Pact is there as a platform for all who are prepared to act, to exchange views, learn from each other, seek mutual support and showcase what can be done. And this platform will link up with other similar initiatives, whether by cities, regions, countries or the UN. I am eager to see how this initiative evolves with the creativity, ideas and needs of those who will participate in it, and I would encourage you to get involved by applying to be a Climate Ambassador, expressing an interest in making a Climate Pledge and registering for the online launch event on 16 December.
Otherwise, I wish you happy, healthy and peaceful holiday period, and all the very best for a New Year full of hope and promise. There is much to look forward to.
Mauro Petriccione
Director-General for Climate Action, European Commission
