PES commends progressive MEPs for safeguarding the European Parliament’s COP26 ambitions

PES commends progressive MEPs for safeguarding the European Parliament’s COP26 ambitions

Socialist and democratic MEPs – led forward by co-rapporteur and Chair of the PES Environment, Climate Change and Energy Network, Javi López MEP – today pushed to ensure the EU remains a world leader in the fight against climate change.

PES President Sergei Stanishev said:

“COP26 is a very important moment. It is the point where we, together across nations and continents, change our common course and avert climate catastrophe. World leaders must head into Conference with high ambitions.

“Today the European Parliament, led by the S&D, signalled its clear support for strong action. As a political family, the PES is fighting for a more sustainable EU and world. Thanks to Javi López MEP, Executive Vice-President Timmermans and others, we are making real progress. COP26 must be the next staging post on the way to a climate neutral world.

“The climate and environmental emergency has to be addressed urgently, and it must be done in a socially just manner, leading to more social progress, a better quality of life and increased wellbeing for all.”

Today’s European Parliament resolution is the latest clear commitment from progressives for a sustainable future. European Commission Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans is leading EU efforts – through the European Green Deal – to achieve and surpass the Paris Agreement targets, agreed at COP21 in Paris in December 2015. The outcome of COP26 must be more ambitious yet.