The EU countries are abandoning setting a precise 2035 climate target (NDC), which is the EU's message to COP30. Instead, the EU countries are maintaining the previously agreed range. This amounts to a reduction in emissions of between 66.25 and 72.5 percent.
The goal was otherwise to come up with a precise figure that would be used at COP30 to convince other countries in the world to increase their climate ambitions. By virtue of the Danish EU presidency, Climate and Energy Minister Lars Aagaard (M) chaired the meeting. He denies that the outcome is a failure for the EU ahead of COP30.
- I don't see it as a failure. A failure would be if we didn't deliver an NDC (Nationally Determined Contributions) at all. We still need a decision in the EU Parliament. That is why some countries said that since the process is not over, we cannot choose a precise number, says Lars Aagaard.
However, it was the goal of the Danish EU presidency to get a precise number.
At COP30, other countries of the world may notice that the EU's credibility as the unwavering climate champion is becoming increasingly difficult to gain support for from all 27 EU countries.
Aagaard: Target must be seen in a larger context
However, Lars Aagaard believes that the result for the nationally determined contribution (NDC) must be seen in the context of the fact that the EU countries also agreed on a 2040 climate target on Wednesday. This is formally set at 90 percent, of which 85 percent must come from the EU countries themselves. The last five percent can come from international climate credits. This means that the EU has a high climate profile before COP30, believes the Danish minister.
- It is not just about the NDC, but about us getting both the 2040 target and an agreement on the NDC, says Lars Aagaard.
At the same time, he believes that the EU will manage to surpass the smallest number in the range of 66.25 percent reduction in emissions in 2035. EU Commissioner for Climate Action Wopke Hoekstra believes that the range is also high compared to the NDCs of other developed countries.
- If you look at our NDC and compare it with those of Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, the USA and the UK, then our NDC is very ambitious, says Wopke Hoekstra.
/ritzau/
Text, graphics, images, sound, and other content on this website are protected under copyright law. DK Medier reserves all rights to the content, including the right to exploit the content for the purpose of text and data mining, cf. Section 11b of the Copyright Act and Article 4 of the DSM Directive.
Customers with IP agreements/major customer agreements may only share Danish Offshore Industry articles internally for the purpose of handling specific cases. Sharing in connection with specific cases refers to journaling, archiving, or similar uses.
Customers with a personal subscription/login may not share Danish Offshore Industry articles with individuals who do not themselves have a personal subscription to Danish Offshore Industry.
Any deviation from the above requires written consent from DK Medier.
