Europe remains a driving force in the fight against climate change as COP28 approaches in Dubai. The European Union is expected to push for an end to dirty fuels and for stronger climate finance commitments. The European Parliament has agreed to call for a rapid phase-out of fossil fuel subsidies, targeting an end by 2025 at the latest, and to triple renewable capacity while doubling energy efficiency by 2030 as part of its COP28 stance.
With a strong majority—462 votes in favor, 134 against, and 30 abstentions—the Parliament adopted its COP28 resolution in plenary, urging countries to close the gap between national commitments and the actual emission reductions needed to control warming.
The situation is described as an emergency, with projections suggesting the planet could reach about 3 degrees of warming relative to pre-industrial levels by the end of the century, effectively doubling the 1.5°C pathway outlined in the Paris Agreement.
The European Parliament Calls for a Concrete Phase-Out of Fossil Fuels
In the resolution just adopted, the Parliament favors a concrete phase-out of fossil fuels rather than mere reductions, a stance diverging from some negotiating blocs and echoing the language seen at COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh in 2022.
France, Germany, and other member states have urged an end to new investments in fossil fuel extraction to keep the Paris goal within reach, avoiding a temperature rise beyond 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
However, some oil-producing nations, including the United Arab Emirates that hosted the summit, advocate for a gradual reduction rather than an abrupt halt. Several developing economies still dependent on hydrocarbons push for a more gradual approach as a matter of economic security.
The Greens’ MEP Pär Holmgren emphasized that an ambitious European position should take center stage, urging Europe to assume a leadership role and to engage with the Global South while addressing past emissions and damages. He argued that the goal is not merely to reduce fossil fuels but to abandon them entirely, while recognizing the need for stronger climate finance for developing nations.
Key Question: Who Leads on Climate Action?
Peter Liese, who chaired the European Parliament delegation to COP28, noted that the EU already contributes more than its per-capita share to climate finance and energy transition. He urged solidarity with less developed countries and small island states, encouraging a joint push on those who have not fulfilled their responsibilities.
According to EFE, Liese highlighted the difference between vulnerable developing countries and industrialized economies like China or Saudi Arabia, suggesting the focus should be on the former. He also remarked that the EU’s climate targets were raised to a 57% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, though he cautioned that this does not yet equate to a binding national commitment for all member states.
He added that the EU should communicate a clear message: it not only has an ambitious target but also a concrete plan to achieve it, and that plan is already supported by existing legislation and regulatory frameworks.
The hope is for a global effort, with the EU signaling that it is possible to reach these goals and that its legislation already provides the necessary tools. The message to other economies is that decisive action is feasible and already underway.
Support from Conservation and Civil Society
The COP28 text is expected to influence biodiversity restoration and the reduction of climate impacts, including methane emissions from aviation, agriculture, defense, and shipping. A consortium of 180 environmental organizations under Climate Action Network Europe welcomed the resolution, urging an end to fossil fuels and subsidies and calling for a halt to new fossil fuel projects. They also emphasized the Need for a Loss and Damage Fund at COP28, with civil society and communities playing a central role and ensuring robust, additional, and predictable financing beyond humanitarian aid.
Chiara Martinelli, director of CAN Europe, urged European governments and the European Commission to align with these demands and to collaborate with other nations to advance these outcomes at COP28.
In closing, the movement to strengthen climate commitments remains a critical feature of Europe’s approach, with the intention of influencing international negotiations and accelerating the transition to clean energy globally. (citation: European Parliament, 2024; CAN Europe, 2024)
Note: The document intentionally reflects the stance of the European Parliament and associated environmental coalitions as they prepare for COP28 in Dubai. (citation: EFE, 2024)