The UN COP28 Climate Change Conference took place from 30 November to 12 December 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. An official delegation from the European Parliament participated between 8 and 12 December.
Following the end of the 2023 global climate negotiations, the MEPs leading Parliament’s delegation reacted to the outcome of the COP28.
“This outcome is really historic: the COP28 decided on the transition away from fossil fuels and towards renewables and energy efficiency. Nuclear energy also has its place. The adopted text does not mention the word ‘phase-out’, but it is a ‘phase-out’ of fossil fuels. I expect the stocks of renewables, energy efficiency and nuclear energy to go up. Great work by the EU team around Commissioner Hoekstra,” said Peter Liese (EPP, DE), Chair of the delegation.
“It is momentous that a COP has addressed fossil fuels for the first time. COP28 marks the beginning of the end of fossil fuels. It has been blocked for many years and this shift is a result of the EU’s strong stance and alliance with developing countries. The agreement also clearly states that all countries must take action now to curb emissions – not in a distant future. This is key, since all countries shall update their national climate plans for next year’s COP. They must also now increase their ambitions.”, said Heléne Fritzon (S&D, SE), Vice-Chair of the delegation.
On Sunday 10 December, the European Parliament hosted a side event at the EU pavilion entitled “Methane Pledge two years on – working together to pick the low hanging fruit of mitigation”.
The Paris Agreement entered into force on 4 November 2016. The Global Stocktake takes place every five years, with the first-ever stocktake concluding at COP28, aims to provide an overall picture of its implementation progress.
