Summary: A Transformed EU External Action for a Climate-Just World

This afternoon TCB partner E3G hosted the event, “Overcoming the COP26 Gaps: A Transformed EU external Action for a Climate-Just World.” Panelists discussed the recently released E3G report titled "Paris Aligned EU External Action for a Climate Just World for All," written by Jennifer Tollman and Léa Pilsner. The report, which was commissioned by the European Parliament’s Greens (European Free Alliance), outlines a European foreign diplomacy engagement strategy for fostering a climate-just world in which the Paris Agreement goals become manifest. Speaking at the event were Jennifer Tollmann, E3G Senior Policy Advisor; Hannah Neumann, Member of the European Parliament; Hannah Moutoni Ryder, CEO of Development Reimagined; and Marc Vaneheukelen, EU Ambassador at Large for Climate Diplomacy and former EU Ambassador to the WTO. The event was moderated by Brussels Correspondent for the Financial Times Mehreen Khan.

The discussion emphasized the necessity for global collaboration to achieve ambitious climate action. As Neumann stated, “despite the unprecedented ambition of the European Green Deal, the EU alone cannot save the plant. We account for only 9% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, the EU is responsible for bringing other actors on board.” The E3G report demonstrates that the goals of the Paris Agreement can only be reached with close collaboration between the EU and other Parties to the Agreement. Commitments made by EU member states alone are simply not enough to achieve the Paris climate goals.

"We must ask ourselves, are we merely trying to survive climate change, or are we trying to position ourselves within the EU as a superpower when it comes to promoting a global transformation agenda?" said Neumann.

The study assess the state of play EU external climate action and addresses the questions: Where is the EU already integrating climate into external action? What leadership areas can be built on? Where are the gaps? What are others doing, and what does that mean for the EU’s role? “Critically, the report provides a framework not only for what Europe can do on a domestic level to reach carbon-neutrality, but also how it can help its partners achieve the Paris goals” said Tollmann. 

Indeed, speakers stressed time and again the importance of the EU's leverage as a world leader in climate diplomacy. Whether or not the bloc delivers its climate goals, and the transparency with which it does so, will be critical in setting the tone of its foreign policy. And while experts agreed on the importance of climate diplomacy, the discussion made clear that delivering ambitious action is most important going forward—without it, we need to prepare for life in a 2°C world.