It is well established that climate change is a global problem, with its consequences already affecting all regions of the world, albeit to varying degrees. A problem of this magnitude and urgency cannot be tackled in silos; it requires a coordinate, global effort. The EU cannot achieve drastic GHG emission cuts alone.
Against this backdrop, the EU engages in bilateral and multilateral actions to collectively address the climate crisis. The following section will focus specifically on multilateral climate action.
UN climate convention
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), adopted in 1992 and entering into force in 1994, consists of the cornerstone international treaty in the global fight against climate change. Its primary objective is to stabilise greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations at levels that prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the Earth’s climate system. The EU and all its Member States are among the 197 Parties to the Convention.
Conference of the Parties (COP)
The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the annual summit during which nations convene to advance decisive solutions to the climate crisis
As the supreme decision-making body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the COP brings together all Parties to the Convention. In addition to national delegations, the summit is attended by business representatives, international organisations, interest groups and associations who are able to join as observers.
In preparation of the COP discussions, the EU participates to the Bonn Climate Change Conference, where the technical aspects of climate policy and action are discussed.
Paris Agreement
In 2015, during COP21 in Paris, all UNFCCC Parties adopted the Paris Agreement: the first ever universal, legally binding global climate agreement. They agreed to limit the global temperature increase to 2°C by 2100 since the industrial revolution, while pursuing efforts to limit the increase even further, to 1.5°C.
COP31
COP31 will take place in Antalya, Turkey from 9 to 20 November 2026. The EU will strive to keep the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 °C within reach, and support efforts to adapt to climate change.
Related links
- COP30
- COP29
- COP28
- COP27
- COP26
Ministerial on Climate Action
Since 2017, the EU, Canada and China have held an annual ministerial meeting to advance the goals of the Paris Agreement.
The EU will host the 10th Ministerial on Climate Action (MoCA10) in Brussels, Belgium, in June 2026.
Related links
Kyoto Protocol
Before the Paris Agreement, the world's only legally binding instrument for cutting greenhouse gas emissions was the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.
The Protocol has been ratified by 192 of the UNFCCC Parties, including the EU and its member countries. However, because many major emitters are not signatories, the Kyoto Protocol only covers about 12% of global emissions.
The Kyoto Protocol’s top decision-making body is the COP serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP). All Parties to the Protocol are represented. Governments that are not Parties attend as observers.
Other international fora
The EU and its member countries participate in international fora whose decisions or recommendations feed directly or indirectly into the UN process. These include the:
Supporting action by non-state actors
Launched at COP22, the Marrakesh Partnership for Global Climate Action aims to strengthen collaboration between governments and key stakeholders to support the implementation of the Paris Agreement.
The Non-State Actor Zone for Climate Action (NAZCA) set up by the UNFCCC allows non-state actors to register their climate commitments. It helps track action that can support countries in achieving their objectives under the Paris Agreement.
The EU and its member countries play an active role in promoting and sponsoring specific initiatives to both mitigate and adapt to climate change around the world.
Examples of initiatives supported by the European Commission:
International climate finance
The EU is proud to support developing economies to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
The EU, its Member States and the European Investment Bank are together the biggest contributor of public climate finance to developing economies.
They are also the world’s top provider of official development assistance, with action to combat climate change being increasingly integrated into this assistance.
- Environment Council conclusions
- Climate diplomacy Conclusions
- Final accounting report of the EU for the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol
- The EU’s 2030 NDC under the Paris Agreement
- Progress Report on the implementation of the Joint Communication - "A New Outlook on the Climate and Security Nexus"