The COP30 in Belém unfolded against rising geopolitical tensions, intensifying climate impacts, and deepening divides between high-ambition countries and major fossil-fuel producers. In light of the absence of the US administration and the final outcome that is weakened on key issues such as the fossil fuel phase-out, we asked MEP Bas Eickhout, Co-Chair of the Greens/EFA in the European Parliament and member of the EP delegation to the COP30 UN Climate Summit, how he assesses the Belém Package and what role he sees for the European Union in future climate diplomacy.
1. What is your assessment of the final outcome of the COP30 negotiations (Belém Package)?
The outcome is nothing more than disappointing. Yes, there have been improvements in some parts of the negotiations, for instance on adaptation finance, a fair transition and renewables, but the main goal this COP – retching up mitigation ambition – has not been achieved. For a moment we hoped that the Brazilian side project on fossil phase-out would get the traction it deserves and we could take a step on that front, but the fossil powers of the world want to protect their business model, rather than the our future. We really need to think about how COPs can deliver more, faster. We don't have the time to wait five years for new targets and most countries don't feel the pressure to actually deliver.
2. How can the European Parliament (and the Greens/EFA) contribute to keeping up the pressure on fossil fuel phase-out, both at EU level and internationally, especially in the run-up to COP31?
This is one of the key topics that we as Greens have been pushing for, also in this new Parliamentary term, especially the phase-out of fossil fuel subsidies. Here, we have actually pushed the European Commission to come up with an initiative, which is a start to work on a concrete timeline. This would help making sustainable alternatives more attractive and lower our demand of fossil fuels, which is the most important thing we can do to keep the pressure on fossil producers. We can put the ambition in UN texts, but in the end, they will really act if they feel the economic consequences. Of course, this will need to be combined with strengthening our climate diplomacy and finance, help the global south transitioning away as well.
3. The COP30 included pledges to counter climate disinformation and improve information integrity. From your perspective, how important is this for future climate diplomacy, and how can the EU lead by example?
To effectively address the climate crisis, our work must be grounded in the latest scientific insights. Both for mitigation and adaptation. This approach only succeeds if we all rely on and trust the same evidence, including the general public, whose support gives climate action legitimacy. Disinformation threatens this foundation by gradually eroding trust in shared knowledge, which is therefore crucial to address and there's also a role for the EU in shaping this. While the EU sets an example by integrating cutting-edge science into policy-making, even here, tools like impact assessments and science-based decision-making are weakening, particularly in recent years. We must reverse this trend.
The views and opinions in this article do not necessarily reflect those of the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union.
