The European Union’s top diplomat on Aug. 12 called on the world’s biggest economies to set tougher climate targets—including a commitment to eliminate their greenhouse gas emissions—in time for a global climate summit in November.
At the start of the week, a U.N. report laid bare the seriousness of global warming, which is dangerously close to exceeding the limits countries agreed were needed to prevent the most severe consequences of climate change.
Wildfires and floods are already causing devastation and a monitoring station in Sicily on Aug. 11 recorded a temperature of 48.8 Celsius (119.84°F), which some scientists believe could be the highest in European history.
“The challenge is now to make sure at the Glasgow summit that all major economies take ambitious enough, measurable and verifiable 2030 targets and climate neutrality commitments,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a blog post.
The EU and United States this year both set tougher targets to reduce their emissions by 2030.
U.S. President Joe Biden has promised to put the United States on a track to net-zero emissions by 2050. The 27-country EU has set that target in law.
Climate neutrality means emitting only as many greenhouse gases as can be removed from the atmosphere through CO2-absorbing vegetation or technologies.
China, India and Russia are among those facing international pressure to raise their ambition in time for the U.N. climate summit in Glasgow.
As a major developed economy, Borrell said the EU has a duty to lead by example.
“As one of the most economically developed areas in the world, we are among those who emit and have emitted in the past the most greenhouse gases responsible for climate change,” he said.
The EU last month proposed 13 laws to cut emissions across the bloc to meet its target to cut net emissions 55% by 2030, from 1990 levels.
Recommended Reading
August Well Permits Rebound in August, led by the Permian Basin
2024-09-18 - Analysis by Evercore ISI shows approved well permits in the Permian Basin, Marcellus and Eagle Ford shales and the Bakken were up month-over-month and compared to 2023.
Kolibri Global Drills First Three SCOOP Wells in Tishomingo Field
2024-09-18 - Kolibri Global Energy reported drilling the three wells in an average 14 days, beating its estimated 20-day drilling schedule.
Permian Resources Closes $820MM Bolt-on of Oxy’s Delaware Assets
2024-09-17 - The Permian Resources acquisition includes about 29,500 net acres, 9,900 net royalty acres and average production of 15,000 boe/d from Occidental Petroleum’s assets in Reeves County, Texas.
Seadrill to Adopt Oil States’ Offshore MPD Technology
2024-09-17 - As part of their collaboration, Seadrill will be adopting Oil States International’s managed pressure drilling integrated riser joints in its offshore drilling operations.