Khaleej Times

EU supports COP27 call to phase down all fossil fuels

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The European Union plans to update its emissionsc­utting target under the Paris climate accord, the EU climate policy chief told the COP27 summit on Tuesday, with the upgrade expected before next year's United Nations summit.

The announceme­nt by the world's third biggest polluter — after China and the United States — attempts to convince others that the 27-country EU is sticking to its commitment­s to fight climate change, even as it battles an energy crisis.

“The EU stands ready to update our NDC,” EU climate chief Frans Timmermans told the COP27 summit in Egypt, referring to the bloc's Nationally Determined

Contributi­on, or target to reduce emissions in line with the 2015 Paris agreement to curb global warming. “So don't let anybody tell you, here or outside, that the EU is backtracki­ng,” he said.

The EU has among the most ambitious climate change policies of major emitters, having committed to cut its net greenhouse gas emissions 55 per cent by 2030, from 1990 levels, and eliminate them by 2050.

EU countries and lawmakers are negotiatin­g legislatio­n to deliver those goals, which Timmermans said should be finished by the end of the year. An EU official said the bloc planned to then upgrade its target before next year's UN climate summit in November 2023.

Updating the EU'S NDC does not necessaril­y mean the law containing its emissions-cutting targets also needs to be changed.

Ahead of COP27, the EU rushed through deals on three of the laws, including a 2035 ban on selling new fossil fuel cars. If implemente­d, those policies would cut EU countries' net emissions by 57 per cent, rather than 5 5per cent, Timmermans said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine has led to a dash for gas in Europe and prompted some countries to burn more coal, as they seek to replace energy supplies from Russia that have been disrupted this year.

EU policymake­rs say the use of more fossil fuel is temporary, and cite plans to expand renewable energy that the European Commission proposed making more ambitious this year to help countries quit Russian gas faster. But the optics of European countries burning more coal and funding new projects to burn more gas — while at the same time urging poorer countries to wean themselves off the fuel — have led some countries at the COP27 summit to complain of backslidin­g on green goals.

Germany, Europe's biggest economy, is among those racing to build gas infrastruc­ture to import non-russian fuel.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in May Germany wanted to pursue gas projects with Senegal, which has billions of cubic metres of gas reserves - even after pledging last year to stop funding overseas fossil fuel projects. — reuters

The EU stands ready to update our NDC (Nationally Determined Contributi­on). So don’t let anybody tell you, here or outside, that the EU is backtracki­ng.”

Frans Timmermans

EU climate chief

 ?? ?? Climate activists work on a sign that reads “don’t be scared of climate justice” at the designated protest zone for the COP27 UN Climate Summit in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, on Tuesday. — ap
Climate activists work on a sign that reads “don’t be scared of climate justice” at the designated protest zone for the COP27 UN Climate Summit in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, on Tuesday. — ap

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