SDG 13: Climate Action | SDG 16: Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions
Institutions: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)
At a recent session, Members of European Parliament (MEPs) adopted a resolution via the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety, urging the EU to retain high ambition in its climate policy and not to dilute its climate commitments to arrive at COP30 with stronger, science-based targets, consistent with the 1.5 °C goal of the Paris Agreement.
The resolution (57 in favour, 23 against, 4 abstentions) calls for the EU to submit an updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), set a science-based target for 2040, and prioritize phasing out fossil fuel subsidies. The MEPs also urged that all sectors—including defence—must reduce emissions, and that climate change impacts in conflict zones (e.g., resource scarcity, displacement) be integrated into EU policy frameworks.
This resolution signals the European Parliament’s intent to push the EU Commission and member states toward stronger climate commitments, particularly in the run-up to COP30. It underscores demand for credible, transparent targets and sectoral accountability.
What is a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC)?
A national pledge by each country under the Paris Agreement that outlines its planned climate action (mitigation, adaptation) and emissions targets. It reflects a country’s ambition and is periodically revised to increase stringency.
What is the Paris Agreement?
The Paris Agreement, adopted at COP21 in 2015, is a landmark global treaty under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It commits nearly all countries to limit global warming to well below 2 °C, and preferably 1.5 °C, above pre-industrial levels. Each country submits a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) — its plan to cut emissions and adapt to climate impacts — and must strengthen it every few years. The Agreement also establishes frameworks for climate finance, technology transfer, and capacity building to help developing nations transition sustainably.
What is COP30?
COP30 refers to the 30th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC, the annual global meeting where governments review climate progress and negotiate new commitments. Scheduled for November 2025 in Belém, Brazil, COP30 will mark a decade since the Paris Agreement and focus on implementing stronger NDCs, climate finance pledges, and adaptation goals. It will also finalise the “Global Stocktake” process, which assesses how far the world is from the 1.5 °C pathway and what actions are needed to close the gap.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders:
How will the EU reconcile higher climate ambition with economic competitiveness across its member states—and what institutional mechanisms will enforce sectoral emissions reduction across industries?
Follow the full news here: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20251003IPR30716/cop30-meps-want-eu-climate-policy-to-maintain-a-high-degree-of-ambition