Brussels: Europe and Arabs
The European Council of Ministers in Brussels adopted the conclusions on the European Union's preparations for the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30), scheduled to take place from 10 to 21 November 2025 in Belém, Brazil. The conclusions outline the EU's key priorities and positions for the conference, emphasizing the urgent need for global climate action and cooperation. This came in a statement from the federal institutions in Brussels, quoting Lars Aagaard, Danish Minister of Energy, Climate Change and Utilities, whose country currently holds the EU's rotating presidency, as saying, "The EU is today adhering to a strong European mandate for COP30. We must leave Belém with a clear path forward to achieve the 1.5 target within reach. Climate change is real, and we must act and adapt to it sooner rather than later." The next step is the EU's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and climate law, and we are ready to move forward following the strategic discussion between European Heads of State and Government.
The statement added, "In Belém, the EU aims to play a pivotal role in advancing global climate efforts by pushing for higher mitigation and adaptation ambitions, and making progress on climate finance. Key EU priorities include:
Strengthening global mitigation ambition and advocating for a collective global response to keep the 1.5°C target within reach
Making progress on adaptation targets
Strengthening the mobilization of climate finance
Supporting the energy transition
EU commitment to urgent climate action
In line with the urgent need to address climate change, the conclusions underline the need for a rapid global transition to a climate-neutral, resilient, and nature-friendly economy. The EU reaffirms its commitment under the Paris Agreement to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C, emphasizing the importance of strengthening international cooperation, as well as highlighting the opportunities and benefits of climate action.
The conclusions call for the submission of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) consistent with pathways to limit temperature rise by 1.5°C, guided by the first global stocktake and the best available scientific knowledge, and urge major emitters to urgently update their NDCs to reflect higher levels of ambition. They highlight the need for a dedicated outcome at COP30 to address collective ambition and implementation.
Accelerating Global Action for the Energy Transition
The conclusions also highlight the critical role of the energy transition in achieving global climate goals. They emphasize the need to triple global renewable energy capacity and double the global average annual rate of improvement in energy efficiency by 2030, along with accelerating low- and zero-emission technologies, and phasing out fossil fuel energy production and consumption globally.
These efforts must be coupled with the phasing out of fossil fuel subsidies and decarbonizing industry. The European Union calls for a just and equitable transition away from fossil fuels in the energy system, ensuring that no country is left behind, to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, in line with the best available science.
Strengthening Adaptation Action
The conclusions emphasize the need to strengthen adaptation action, including by reaching agreement on the UAE-Belem Action Programme on indicators to measure progress, strengthening adaptation planning and implementation at all levels, and guiding the next global action plan.
Scaling Up Climate Finance
The European Union welcomes the new collective quantified goal (NCQG) on climate finance, adopted at COP29 in Baku. In this regard, the conclusions emphasize the need to identify actions and measures that will help increase climate finance, providing $1.3 trillion by 2035 to support developing countries in their efforts to adapt to and mitigate climate change. The importance of aligning financial flows with the objectives of the Paris Agreement was also emphasized, including by calling on all actors to work together to achieve this goal. The Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) meets annually to set climate ambitions and responsibilities, and to identify and assess climate action.
The European Union and its Member States are Parties to the Convention, which has 198 Parties (197 countries plus the European Union). The rotating Presidency of the Council, together with the European Commission, represents the European Union at these international climate summits.
COP30 in Belém will focus on the implementation of the Paris Agreement and the assessment of countries' updated climate action plans.
On 10 October 2025, the Council approved conclusions on climate finance, which complement the EU's overall position ahead of COP30.