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Climate Action
News article12 December 2018Directorate-General for Climate Action

COP24 side event: European strategic vision for long-term greenhouse gas emissions reduction

The European Commission will host a series of side events on strategies and perspectives for long-term greenhouse gas emissions reduction on 12-13 December at the UN climate change conference (COP24) in Katowice, Poland.

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The European Commission will host a series of side events on strategies and perspectives for long-term greenhouse gas emissions reduction on 12-13 December at the UN climate change conference (COP24) in Katowice, Poland.

The Commission presented its strategic vision for a climate-neutral Europe by 2050 on 28 November, kicking off a broad debate on how Europe can contribute to the long-term temperature goals of the Paris Agreement and how the required transformation can be achieved. The events at COP24 will present the Commission's vision to an international audience and explore stakeholder perspectives for long-term decarbonisation.

Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Cañete said: “We hope that our proposal and the subsequent societal debate involving decision-makers, stakeholders and citizens at large will allow the EU to develop an ambitious long-term strategy – and that this process can inspire other countries' work on their long-term strategies and first and foremost be an avenue for exchange and learning from each other.”

A high-level panel at 10:30-12:00 on 12 December, moderated by the European Commission's Director-General for Climate Action Mauro Petriccione, will present and debate the EU strategy, discussing the necessary elements and technology developments needed for a high level of ambition, how to link short and long-term policy making, and good practice for involving all parts of society in this process.

High-level panel speakers:

  • Miguel Arias Cañete, European Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy
  • Xie Zhenhua, Special Representative for Climate Change, China
  • Yoshiaki Harada, Minister of Environment, Japan
  • Henryk Kowalczyk, Minister of Environment, Poland
  • Teresa Ribera, Minister for Ecological Transition, Spain
  • Jennifer Morgan, Executive Director, Greenpeace International

After this kick-off, eleven thematic sessions over two days will explore multi-sector perspectives for long-term decarbonisation that help to drive forward a modern, competitive and socially fair European economy.

These sessions will provide opportunities to discuss in detail topics such as:

  • Reaching scale for climate finance
  • Research and innovation needs
  • Achieving a net zero energy system
  • The role of agriculture
  • Demystifying negative emissions
  • Decarbonisation and transport
  • Carbon neutral industry
  • Modelling tools
  • Youth engaging for a sustainable Europe
  • Adaptation outlook
  • The role of local governments

The full programme is available on the EU side events programme.

Background

The Paris Agreement's goal is to keep the global temperature increase to well below 2°C and pursue efforts to limit the increase to 1.5°C. All Parties to the agreement have been invited to communicate, by 2020, their long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategies.

The European Commission presented its strategic long-term vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate-neutral economy by 2050 on 28 November 2018. The vision is an invitation to all EU institutions, national parliaments, business sector, trade unions, non-governmental organisations, cities and communities, as well as citizens and especially the youth, to engage in an EU-wide informed debate, which should allow the EU to adopt and submit an ambitious strategy by early 2020 to the UNFCCC.

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Details

Publication date
12 December 2018
Author
Directorate-General for Climate Action