Key facts
- The EU plans to push for a "mitigation package" at COP31 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- The EU wants to extend the "mitigation work programme" in UN climate negotiations until 2040.
- The EU will push countries to respond to the UN's confirmation that the 1.5C global warming target will be missed.
- The EU's strategy for COP31 involves focusing on implementing existing climate commitments.
- The EU document states there is "no scope" for new climate funding commitments at COP31.
The European Union intends to leverage the upcoming COP31 climate summit to advance global efforts in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, according to an internal EU document seen by Reuters. Despite ongoing extreme weather events linked to climate change, recent UN climate talks have seen limited agreement on stronger actions, partly due to concerns from large emerging economies and fossil fuel producers about the impact on their growth.
At COP31, scheduled for November in Turkey, the EU will advocate for a "mitigation package" designed to translate existing national climate pledges into tangible emission reductions. A central demand will be the extension of the "mitigation work programme"—a segment of UN climate negotiations focused on identifying areas for greater emission cuts—beyond its current expiration this year, ideally until 2040. The EU also plans to press countries to acknowledge and respond to the UN's recent confirmation that the world is on track to miss the 2015 Paris Agreement's goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.