Article by Andrea Scordino – Journalist, Fanpage.it
The European Union will maintain a leading role in international climate negotiations and calls on all countries to make a concrete contribution to combating climate change. This was decided by the European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Climate and Security, meeting in Strasbourg on October 6, which defined Europe’s official position ahead of COP30, the United Nations climate change conference to be held in Belém, Brazil, from November 10 to 21, 2025.
The resolution, approved by 57 votes in favor, 23 against, and 4 abstentions, reaffirms the European Union’s commitment to maintaining high climate ambitions in line with the Paris Agreement. MEPs also urged the Council of the EU to adopt the 2035 climate commitment as soon as possible, which aims to reduce emissions by 74% compared to 1990 levels. They also criticized the EU’s delay in updating countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), a key tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The European Union’s primary target remains 2030, with a 55% reduction in emissions.
The new NDC will also have to take into account the 2040 climate target of reducing emissions by 90% compared to 1990 levels.
The milestones set by the EU to achieve climate neutrality mirror the “Paris Agreement,” which legally binds signatory states to limit the increase in global average temperature to less than 2°C above pre-industrial levels, aiming not to exceed 1.5°C.
The Environment Committee then highlighted the urgency of ending the European Union’s dependence on fossil fuels, urging the Commission and Member States to set a clear deadline for the phasing out of subsidies for coal, oil, and gas.
The document also highlights that climate change poses an increasingly serious threat to global peace and security, contributing to the scarcity of natural resources, causing severe food crises and tensions between states. The resolution also draws attention to the severe environmental impact of the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine. On this front, MEPs call on the defense sector to play its part by helping to reduce its emissions. Finally, it emphasizes that all sectors, from road transport to international shipping, agriculture, and tourism, must progressively reduce emissions to achieve climate neutrality, with particular attention to methane and the textile industry. The document will be voted on by the European Parliament during its plenary session scheduled for October 20-23.