Think Tanks and NGOs Call Out Ministers for Ambiguous Climate Pledges: What This Means for Our Future

Brussels is struggling to meet a key deadline to present its climate action plans to the UN. The EU is divided on how aggressive its emissions reduction targets should be for the next decade.

Some countries argue for a cut of at least 72.5% compared to 1990 levels. Others believe anything above 66.25% is too ambitious. Instead of finalizing a clear target, environment ministers agreed only on a vague “statement of intent.”

This lack of clarity is damaging Europe’s image as a climate leader. Steffen Menzel from the think tank E3G stated that repeated delays have made it hard for Europe to show commitment at the upcoming UN Climate Summit.

There are discussions about aiming for a 90% cut by 2040, as proposed by the European Commission. However, experts warn that setting a lower target for 2035 could mean an extra 1.4 billion tonnes of CO2 in the atmosphere. Green MEP Lena Schilling criticized the lack of a binding commitment, calling it a “slap in the face” for those affected by climate disasters this summer.

Sven Harmeling from Climate Action Network Europe expressed disappointment about the missed deadline, emphasizing that it harms Europe’s credibility on the global stage. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) echoed this sentiment, saying ministers are not fulfilling their responsibilities to their citizens by failing to act decisively.

As Europe continues to wrestle with these issues, leaders from different countries will meet at the European Council summit on October 23. They will need to find a common ground, which won’t be easy. Linda Kalcher from Strategic Perspectives noted that the debate is far from settled.

Both past and present show that climate agreements can require high-level intervention to reach an agreement, as evidenced by the earlier 2030 and 2050 targets. With the COP30 summit starting on November 10 in Brazil, ministers only have two weeks left to address the 2035 target.

The challenges are significant, but they underscore the heightened urgency for ambitious climate action as the world faces ongoing environmental crises.



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