Wopke Hoekstra proved to be “optimistic” upon arrival at the meeting of environmental ministers in Brussels
The European Commission has confidently that the European Union (EU) will continue to assume “a leadership role” in climate goals, despite internal divisions on the trajectory of reducing polluting gas emissions by 2040.
“I am truly confident that this leadership role we played in the past will also continue this year and further,” said European Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra, arriving at the meeting of the environmental ministers in Brussels.
The meeting arises at a time when EU countries record different positions on their trajectory to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 and try to commit a commitment that the United Nations (UN) conference on the climate in November, in the Brazilian municipality of Belém.
“This type of processes [negociação de metas] It is never a complete straight line from point A to point B, but if we look more broadly, we will see that we continue to be among the most ambitious worldwide, ”noted Wopke Hoekstra.
The European Commissioner said he was “optimistic” about the discussions.
“I am, in fact, confident that in the coming weeks we will be able to solve this situation, namely inside,” he said.
Divided as to their climate for 2040, Member States try to reach a minimal deal about a common message to convey in the next UN conference on the weather.
Under discussion are the nationally determined contributions (NDCs), the climate action plans of each country elaborated under the Paris agreement to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
The idea would be to approve, in the EU, an emission reduction range over the next 10 years (between -66.3% and -72.5% compared to 1990) and then specify the goal when the 27 Member States have reached a commitment to their trajectory to 2040.
If there is no consensus, the Ministers of the Environment – such as the Portuguese, Maria da Graça Carvalho – will only define a statement of intent on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from the European Union by 2035.
The European Union discussion on climate goals for 2040 focuses on a European Commission proposal that provides for a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (compared to 1990 levels) as an intermediate stage towards climate neutrality by 2050.
Denmark and Spain press in favor, but countries like Hungary and the Czech Republic are against the defense of their industry, while France is cautious.
