European bloc finalizes NDC details after months of delay; delivery must take place before the conference in Belém
The European Union (EU) is expected to present its new climate goals — the so-called Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) — next week, in time for COP30, which will be held in November, in Belém (PA).
According to the Poder360 As it turned out, the block is still making final adjustments to the document. A preliminary presentation of the bloc’s climate strategy was presented in Brussels this Thursday (October 16, 2025), but bilateral meetings will still be held before the proposal is finalized.
The delivery will take place after months of internal impasse and criticism for the delay. The European Union missed the original February deadline and also the extension granted by the UN until September, when it presented only one “letter of intent” in New York.
The document indicated an emissions reduction of between 66.25% and 72.5% by 2035 — below the 77% cut considered necessary to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
Deadlock between member countries
The definition of targets has been hampered by disagreements between the European Commission and national governments. Leaders such as Emmanuel Macron (France), Friedrich Merz (Germany), Giorgia Meloni (Italy) and Viktor Orbán (Hungary) are highlighted as obstacles to the adoption of more ambitious commitments.
The topic will return to the agenda on October 21, during a special meeting of the European Council. The delay worries European diplomats, who see a risk to the bloc’s credibility in climate negotiations.
Global Leadership Vacuum
The international scenario was shaken by the United States’ second withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, determined by President Donald Trump (Republican Party). The country, the 2nd largest emitter of greenhouse gases, dismantled its climate diplomacy structure and reduced domestic environmental policies.
Without the United States, the European Union is pressured to play a leading role in the negotiations.
The vice-president of the European Commission, Teresa Ribera, stated this week that the bloc will maintain its mitigation plans “even in the face of the setback of others”, classifying the postponement of climate action as “suicide”.
Brazil’s position
As host of COP30, Brazil has demanded compliance with deadlines and the strengthening of multilateralism. The country presented its new NDC at COP29, with a target of reducing emissions between 59% and 67% by 2035.
In a speech at the UN Climate Summit, the president defended that all nations present their goals before the conference:
“Without the set of NDCs, the planet is walking in the dark. Only with the complete picture will we know where and at what pace we are going”, said Lula.
The Brazilian government is also pushing for advances in climate financing. The Minister of Finance, Fernando Haddad, defended that developed countries increase the resources allocated to the green transition, with the goal of reaching US$ 1.3 trillion annually by 2035, according to the “Road Map from Baku to Belém”.
Itamaraty hopes that COP30 will be marked as the “implementation COP” — and sees the delivery of the European NDC as an essential step to boost the global commitment to decarbonization.
