Europe cannot afford to let climate delayers dictate our future
Author: Hugues Stéphane Beaudouin
Date:
Renew Europe strongly regrets today’s decision, by a coalition of MEPs, including far-right climate deniers, to reject the application of the urgency procedure for an amendment to the European Climate Law to set an EU climate target for 2040. An urgent procedure was made necessary due to the much-delayed proposal of the European Commission.
At a time when Europe must demonstrate unwavering leadership on climate action, today’s move will make it more challenging for the European Parliament to express itself with a strong position ahead of the COP30 in Brazil. With the US in retreat from its global commitments, a strong European position is essential. The rejection of an urgency procedure also means the far-right Patriot Group will maintain control of the Climate Law file in the Parliament.
Pascal Canfin (Renaissance, France), Renew Europe coordinator on environmental matters, said:
"The rejection of the urgency procedure on the climate law does not give us the guarantee that Parliament will be able to vote in October before the COP in Belém. I regret this risk to European climate leadership, which has been imposed on us by the EPP. We will work tirelessly to be ready in time: we stand ready to vote on a new urgency procedure in September to make this possible and to respond to the climate emergency, on which over 80% of Europeans are asking us to act."
Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy (D66, The Netherlands), Renew Europe vice-president and shadow rapporteur on the Climate Law proposal, added:
"Today's wholehearted rejection of an urgent climate procedure is a blow to Europe’s leadership. The rejection of this urgency request now leaves Patriots in charge of the timeline. Only days after passionate warnings against the far right from the Commission President, climate deniers have been handed the keys on climate policy. The Patriots are climate deniers, delayers and outright untrustworthy. Liberals and Democrats are united for an ambitious 2040 target and we will do everything we can to deliver a strong response to the climate emergency at hand, in line with citizens expectations."
Despite this setback, Renew Europe remains fully committed to building a strong, progressive alliance in the European Parliament to deliver a binding 90% emissions cut by 2040. This target is crucial to keep Europe on track for climate neutrality by 2050 and to maintain our global credibility ahead of COP30 in Brazil later this year.
Europe cannot afford to let climate delayers dictate our future. We call on all pro-Europeans to stand united and ensure that Europe leads, not lags, in the global race to net zero.
