Two weeks before the climate summit, the European Parliament pressed for a united stance among European Union members and the G20. The document calls for more ambitious national targets to cut emissions and for tracking CO2 contributions at the national level, alongside a firm commitment to mobilize 100 billion dollars annually in climate finance. These demands are laid out in a resolution adopted by a show of hands in the plenary session, as a European delegation prepared to participate in the COP27 conference in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, held from November 6 to 18. The resolution frames climate action as a joint responsibility that requires both EU leadership and broader international cooperation.
Despite notable progress in global climate action, there is a pronounced gap between announced pledges and actual climate outcomes. Greenhouse gas concentrations continue to rise, and human activity is accelerating a point of no return, according to the co-rapporteur of the report, a socialist leader who emphasizes the urgent need for stronger measures. Extreme weather events, including floods, heatwaves, and droughts, remain at record levels, underscoring the immediacy of intensified action. The text highlights these concerns as a key reason for tougher policy steps and stronger enforcement.
There is a call for tougher legislation on climate and biodiversity. The authors argue that both crises present monumental challenges for humanity and stress the necessity of robust policy tools to address them. The resolution references data from the UNEP Emissions Gap Report, 2021, which warned that even with the most ambitious national targets for 2030, temperatures could rise by about 2.7°C. The Paris Agreement aims to keep global warming well below 2°C and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5°C, a target reiterated in the document as a central objective.
The EU and the broader international community are urged to raise ambition now—pushing for deeper mitigation commitments that bridge the current gap and cap warming at 1.5°C. Significant investment and decisive actions in adaptation, resilience, and sustainable development are emphasized, alongside a clear mechanism to address loss and damage with adequate funding and technical assistance at the upcoming peak discussions. The situation in regions affected by conflagrations and geopolitical tensions, including the ongoing impacts of conflicts, adds urgency to the transformation of energy and economic systems on a global scale.
The text stresses that immediate action is essential within this decade. It cautions that many long-term promises to reach net-zero emissions lack specificity and transparency. As a result, it calls on both EU countries and G20 members to set more ambitious targets, accelerate implementation, and ensure funding commitments are real and traceable. The European Union, described as the leading contributor in this ongoing global effort, is urged to maintain that role and to establish a clear path for distributing funds as part of a sustained climate finance strategy that began to take shape years ago and is intended to continue through the mid-2020s, with a benchmark of roughly 100 billion dollars per year over several years to support climate action in developing nations.
In essence, the resolution presents a comprehensive framework for accelerating climate action, strengthening resilience, and promoting sustainable development across the EU and its partners. It underlines the importance of transparent reporting, credible emission reductions, and concrete financing for adaptation and loss and damage—key elements designed to translate ambition into tangible results at COP27 and beyond. The authors remind readers that the policy direction must be rooted in accountability and collaborative political will, ensuring that climate progress aligns with both regional priorities and global responsibility for a livable future. The document also acknowledges the wider geopolitical landscape, noting that ongoing crises have intensified the need for rapid, scalable changes in energy, industry, and infrastructure to safeguard communities and ecosystems worldwide. (Source: European Parliament proceedings and accompanying briefings)