Key facts
- EU climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra stated that most UN COP climate summits have not met the ambitious action required by scientists to combat climate change.
- Hoekstra emphasized the need for continued work at COP summits and in smaller groups of willing countries to accelerate efforts against global warming.
- The European Commission aims to build bridges with countries from the Global South to curb emissions.
The effectiveness of international climate summits, such as the UN's Conference of the Parties (COP), is under scrutiny as global warming continues to accelerate. Despite these gatherings being crucial for international cooperation, achieving the ambitious targets set by scientists requires more decisive and rapid action, which may necessitate initiatives beyond the scope of broader, slower-moving global agreements.