Climate Action: Europe readies next steps to implement the Paris Agreement

Today, the European Commission presented an assessment of the implications for the European Union of the new global climate agreement adopted in Paris in December 2015. The assessment looks at the next steps in the process and how the Paris Agreement will be implemented in the EU. The assessment is also accompanied by a proposal for the European Union to sign the Paris Agreement. Vice-President for the Energy Union Maroš Šefčovič said: “The Paris Agreement sends a strong signal that the world is moving towards a global clean energy transition. We want to maintain the first mover advantage, notably in renewable energy and energy efficiency. Under the Energy Union strategy we want to create an environment that allows investors and businesses to fully seize these new opportunities, and consequently be able to generate new jobs and growth. There are also significant opportunities for our cities. After all, it is in urban areas where an important part of the transition will actually happen. We will speed up our work in this field.” EU Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Cañete said: “We have the deal. Now we need to make it real. For the EU, this means completing the 2030 climate and energy legislation without delay, signing and ratifying the Agreement as soon as possible, and continuing our leadership in the global transition to a low-carbon future. Through our climate diplomacy, the EU will push to keep climate change at the top of the international political agenda. We have a lot of work ahead of us, but as we did in Paris, we will persevere and succeed.” The Agreement will be open for signatures on 22 April 2016 in New York, and enter into force when at least 55 Parties representing at least 55% of global emissions have ratified. Furthermore, the Commission will present during the next 12 months key remaining legislative proposals to implement the 2030 framework. See the press release for the main conclusions of the assessment. Find more information about the Commission’s climate action and energy priorities on the Energy Union website.