The Paris Agreement entered into force on 4 November 2016 and as part of it a Global Stocktake takes place every five years. The first-ever stocktake, scheduled to conclude at COP28, aims to provide an overall picture of its implementation progress. Parliament adopted its demands ahead of this year’s global climate talks on 21 November 2023. MEPs debate with Commission and Council representatives the conclusions of the UN COP28 Climate Change Conference. Opening statements by Pascual NAVARRO RÍOS, Spanish Secretary of State for the European Union and Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality. This transcription is a result of an authomatic process. Please check against delivery.

statement

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

climate change

fight against climate change (T)

DALLI, Helena (MT, EC)

NAVARRO RÍOS, Pascual Ignacio

COP 28 (T)

Outcome of the UN Climate Change Conference 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (COP28): opening statements by Pascual NAVARRO RÍOS, Spanish Secretary of State for the European Union and Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pascual Ignacio NAVARRO R&Iacute;OS, Spanish Secretary of State for the EU, Ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner. With the most recent COP, we have taken a historic step forward to address the triple planetary crisis. We are facing pollution, climate change and the loss of biodiversity. We've seen that if we act together, we can move forward with mitigation, funding and adaptation. So, we can keep 1.5 degrees within our reach. The first global stocktake has highlighted the necessary actions that we need to undertake to achieve the same.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pascual Ignacio NAVARRO RÍOS, Spanish Secretary of State for the EU, Now, in the COP 28, for the first time, we've made it clear coal to move away from fossil fuels and energy systems with the aim of hitting net 0 in 2050. This is a significant step forward for multilateralism. We recognise the need to peak IGHG emissions as soon as possible and to hit 43% reduction by 2030 and 60% by 2035. This is very much in line with our aim of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pascual Ignacio NAVARRO RÍOS, Spanish Secretary of State for the EU, Moreover, we've also committed to tripling renewables and energy efficiency by 2030. The final text also calls for acceleration of efforts and in decarbonising in relation to funding in the first days of the COP, it was a significant achievement. The implementation of the loss and damage funds with promises of pledges over 700 million. There's been many new commitments in the financial year which have been assumed as well.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pascual Ignacio NAVARRO RÍOS, Spanish Secretary of State for the EU, The COP has shown that we need to transform our international finance system if we want to take our aim seriously. The first outcome of the global stocktake means that we need to continue driving forward private funding for climate action and also remove funding from which can threaten our shared prosperity.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pascual Ignacio NAVARRO RÍOS, Spanish Secretary of State for the EU, Now, on adaptation, we have achieved a framework for a global framework for adaptation, which is a significant step forward to accelerate action and to increase resilience. Further important commitments are the following, for example, the deforestation by 2030 and also the recognition of the fact that we need to increase funding for adaptation.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Pascual Ignacio NAVARRO RÍOS, Spanish Secretary of State for the EU, Europe has shown its unity and its capacity to build alliances, which has been absolutely vital in the most difficult times of the COP 28. COP 28 was a significant step forward in global climate policy. Now, however, there's a lot of work that remains before us, but we are convinced that acting together with Team Europe and working with other common allies around the world, we can achieve ambition, aim even more ambitious. Thank you.

SOUNDBITE (English), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, Good morning and thank you. President, Minister, Honourable Members, I want to thank you for the opportunity to debrief you on the outcomes of the COP 28 that ended yesterday, as you all know, in Dubai. The scope was fundamental for our climate ambition as it marked the first global stocktake under the Paris Agreement. And it was one of the last opportunities to keep the 1.5°C objective within reach.

SOUNDBITE (English), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, This is a historic agreement that keeps us on track with the goals of the Paris Agreement and a climate neutral future in 2050. Turning to the main outcomes, all parties agreed to first accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels this decade. Second, to take action to reduce global emissions by 43% by 2030 compared to 2019 levels. And third, set the world on a pathway to reaching net zero emissions by 2050 in line with the best available science.

SOUNDBITE (English), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, Moreover, other important agreements championed by the EU were translated into the global stocktake decision. All parties have committed to tripling global renewable energy capacity and doubling the rate of energy efficiency improvements by 2030, as was proposed by the EU. This gives powerful momentum to the transition away from fossil fuels.

SOUNDBITE (English), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, There is also an agreement to tackle methane emissions and other non CO2 emissions in this decade and to phase out as soon as possible, inefficient fossil fuel subsidies that do not address energy poverty or the just transition. Under the Global Stocktake parties, agreed on a pathway to get back on track, including through a process to align national targets and measures with the Paris Agreement. Parties should submit their nationality determined contributions for 2035, by COP 30 in 2 years time.

SOUNDBITE (English), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, And these should be aligned with the best available science and the outcomes of the global stocktake. As you know, the Commission will present early next year an impact assessment and the communication on our 2040 targets, which will be the basis for our new NDC. But the global stocktake is also about creating the right conditions for the transition. We have agreed on the final steps towards setting the new collective quantified goal on climate finance at next year's COP.

SOUNDBITE (English), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, The agreement on the framework of the global goal on adaptation is also an important first step, and it is accompanied by decisions on adaptation finance with recognition that adaptation finance will have to be significantly scaled up. COP 28 pushed forward the reform of the international financial architecture to make it fit for purpose for addressing the climate emergency. Specifically, the EU led the way in establishing a new fund responding to loss and damage. And the EU and its Member States have contributed more than €400 million over two thirds of the initial funding pledges.

SOUNDBITE (English), Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, The final Cop 28 negotiated outcomes yesterday come on top of multiple agreements secured in the past two weeks, including the World Climate Action Summit attended by President von der Leyen, was this outcome represents good news for the whole world. It is certainly not the end of the story. The work to implement what was agreed starts today. We, of course, stand ready in future negotiations to promote further ambition and to make sure we limit the worst impacts of climate change. Thank you.