The Paris Agreement, adopted by 196 parties in 2015, sets the goal of keeping the global temperature increase well below 2 degrees Celsius (compared to pre-industrial levels). The EU is well on its way: it wants to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. The so-called “European Green Deal” clearly defines the EU’s goals and first steps towards their realisation. Perhaps the strategy does not go far enough, but it is nevertheless precise and more ambitious than what other countries around the world have presented so far. So, domestically, we are – by and large – doing our homework. But we lack an equally ambitious plan for our external action. After all, the EU is only responsible for 9 percent of global CO2 emissions. So if we really want to stop the climate crisis, we need to get everyone on board.

How exactly can this work? Our new Green/EFA study provides an answer. The study, written by the independent think tank E3G, looks at how to reconcile EU foreign policy with the Paris Agreement and the European Green Deal.

One finding of the study: This decade is crucial for the fight against climate change – and European diplomacy has the potential to achieve a lot for this fight. What it needs to do: Bridge funding gaps, gain our partner’s trust, and focus on cooperation and climate-just approaches.

Are you interested? The study is now available.