EU Parliament delegation heads to COP31 to push fossil fuel phase-out

Lídia Pereira and Wopke Hoekstra lead EU climate efforts

European Parliament delegation chair Lídia Pereira (EPP, PT) and EU Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra are scheduled to hold a press conference at COP31. Commissioner Hoekstra has stated he has "low expectations" for the summit outcomes in Antalya.

Lídia Pereira stated that the summit must be a "COP of implementation" that moves beyond general declarations toward investment and measurable results. She noted the necessity of balancing economic growth and productivity with the limits of the planet.

Heléne Fritzon (S&D, SE) stated that the EU must lead by example to close the gap between the Paris Agreement promises and global emissions reductions.

The delegation plans meetings with representatives from Türkiye, Australia, the United States, China, India, and Brazil. They will also meet with UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell, IPCC Chair Jim Skea, UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen, and civil society representatives.

COP31 leadership published a "Summary of Reflections" that lists country priorities, including the transition away from fossil fuels. The European Parliament is one of the seven institutions of the European Union and serves as one of its two legislative bodies. It adopts legislation alongside the Council of the European Union, based on proposals submitted by the European Commission. Following the June 2024 elections, the Parliament is composed of 720 MEPs.

An analysis by Zsolt Darvas of the Bruegel think tank suggests the proposed changes would shift spending decisions from the legislative stage to national implementation, decreasing parliamentary oversight.

The Parliament is hosting an e-parliament conference, the first such event following an 18-year hiatus. Berlin clan leader Issa Remmo attended an event at the EU Parliament as a "state guest".

Türkiye and Australia co-host COP31 negotiations

The UN Climate Change Conference, COP31, is taking place in Antalya, Türkiye, from 9 to 20 November 2026. Australia and Türkiye are co-hosting the negotiations.

Murat Kurum, the Minister of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, is the President of the COP31 summit for Türkiye.

Parliament mandates 90% greenhouse gas reduction by 2040

The European Parliament acts as a co-legislator on energy and climate policy and must provide consent for international agreements. The institution represents an electorate of approximately 375 million eligible voters. On 22 October 2026, the Parliament formally adopted its position for the COP31 summit.

In February 2026, the Parliament passed an amendment to the European Climate Law mandating a 90% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 compared to 1990 levels. The law, which entered into force in April 2026, requires at least 85% of these reductions to occur within the European Union.

Low-carbon steel credits could cover up to 7.5% of the target, resulting in an effective reduction of approximately 95%.

For vans, the committee proposed a 2030 target of 35% and a 2035 target of 80%, with a 7.5% cap on low-carbon steel credits. Rules limit these credits to 3% for both cars and vans until the end of 2034.

The committee vote remains a negotiating position, with a full Parliament vote expected in December 2026. Existing rules, including the 100% reduction targets, remain in effect until the Parliament votes and the deal completes legislative steps with the Council.

The EU Parliament and the Council have agreed to provide industry with an additional €10 billion in free carbon allowances. The Parliament passed a resolution demanding that Russia and Belarus provide data concerning Ukrainian children.

Fossil fuel financing and lobbyist presence spark concern

Discrepancies exist between fossil fuel financing and climate funds for developing nations.

A United Nations Environment Programme report published before the summit found that tripling international public adaptation finance would only satisfy 23-29% of the requirements for developing nations. Türkiye, France, the United States, and Italy have included fossil fuel lobbyists in their delegations at the summit.

According to LinkedIn user Yan Dupas, COP31 provides an opportunity to recruit South Korea into the Clean Energy Transition Partnership. This move could potentially influence Japan and China to join the initiative.

Scheduled side events and press conferences

The delegation has scheduled specific side events for the coming week.

This event is held in partnership with the European Economic and Social Committee. On 19 November, a session titled "Electrification for energy security and for economic and climate resilience" is scheduled for 13.15 to 14.30 Türkiye time at the EU Pavilion.