During a debate, ahead of COP26 in Glasgow, MEPs push for accelerated climate action worldwide and for the EU to remain a world leader in fighting climate change. Statement by Pascal CANFIN (Renew, FR), Chair of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety and head of the EP delegation to COP26.

UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, the UK (COP26): statement by Pascal CANFIN (Renew, FR), ENVI Chair

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Title: UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, the UK (COP26)

SOUNDBITE (French), Pascal CANFIN (Renew, FR), ENVI Chair, The European Parliament obviously considers this to be a very important moment because it comes after last year when we did not have a Climate Conference. This iwill be the big climate meeting of the year and we are looking forward to. What will make the difference between a success and a failure of the COP? There are two two things. The first one refers to the most of the member states who need to present their new CO2 reduction plans in accordance with the Paris agreement, on the same time as the main emitter today, China, which has not yet presented its new target for 2030. And this is a fundamental aspect because China is the first polluter in the world and it is the one that can unlock the rest.

SOUNDBITE (French), Pascal CANFIN (Renew, FR), ENVI Chair, And the second element is money. And here, for the moment, the ball is in our court since it is the rich countries that must commit to transfer 100 billion dollars a year to the poorest countries to help them fight climate change. And today, we are at about 85 billion out of the 100 billion. So we still have an extra effort to go. And if, at COP 26, both are going in the right direction, then it will be a success.

SOUNDBITE (French), Pascal CANFIN (Renew, FR), ENVI Chair, We as Europeans are coming to COP 26 with the Green Deal and we have met our objectives, namely we have now the new CO2 reduction targets that are aligned with the Paris Agreement, the climate neutrality in 2050 and at least minus 55 in 2030. We have a legislative plan that allows us to change the rules of the game to give ourselves the means to achieve the goals that I have just mentioned. This is what is called in European jargon the &ldquo;Fit to 55&rdquo;, namely 14 laws that will change the price on the carbon market, the CO2 standards of cars, etc. in order to align our rules to the Paris Agreement.

SOUNDBITE (French), Pascal CANFIN (Renew, FR), ENVI Chair, But the Green Deal is even more than that because around 50 laws will be changed, will align our public policies with the new climate objectives: the rules of the commercial budget game, state aid, etc. We as Europeans will arrive in Glasgow by being certain on our purposes and being up to date with our obligations. And it is still necessary now that all the others do the same, especially China.