Environment Council, 16 October 2023

Main results

COP28 climate change conference

EU environment ministers approved Council conclusions on the preparations for the 2023 United Nations climate change conference (COP28), which will take place in Dubai, United Arabic Emirates, from 30 November to 12 December 2023. The conclusions will serve as the EU’s general negotiating position at the COP28.

In its conclusions, the Council highlighted the importance of substantially scaling up global climate ambitions to keep the 1.5°C objective set out in Paris within reach. It also called for a global phase-out of unabated fossil fuels well ahead of 2050 and of fossil fuel subsidies as soon as possible to accelerate the transition to a climate-neutral economy. Ministers encouraged global action towards the tripling of installed renewable energy capacity to 11 TW and the doubling of the rate of improvement in energy efficiency by 2030.

The Council also emphasised the importance of successfully conducting the first Global Stocktake at COP28 and renewed the strong commitment made by the EU and its member states to continue scaling up their international climate finance.

COP28: Council sets out EU position for UN climate summit in Dubai (press release, 16 October 2023)

Council conclusions on the preparations for the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

EU nationally determined contribution to the UNFCCC

Ministers approved the submission by the EU of an updated nationally determined contribution (NDC) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). NDCs are an integral part of the Paris Agreement, which requires each party to the convention to communicate their post-2020 climate actions. The new EU NDC has been updated in light of the adoption of all the essential elements of the ‘Fit for 55’ legislative package. In this context, the full implementation of the Fit for 55 framework could enable the EU and its member states to overachieve the EU’s net domestic reduction of GHG emissions target of at least 55% compared to 1990 by 2030.

NDCs set out the efforts made by each country to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. The EU submits an NDC on behalf of the EU and its member states.

CO₂ emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles

Ministers reached an agreement (‘general approach’) on a proposal to review the regulation for CO2 emission standards for new heavy-duty vehicles.

The proposal aims to further reduce CO2 emissions in the road transport sector in line with the EU’s climate objectives by raising the emissions reduction targets for 2030 and introducing new targets for 2035 and 2040. In addition, more vehicle categories will be included in the targets, notably buses and trailers. With regard to urban buses, ministers agreed that all new urban buses will have to be zero-emission from 2035 and also set an intermediate target of 85% for this category by 2030.

Urban wastewater treatment

The Council reached an agreement (‘general approach’) on a proposal to revise the urban wastewater treatment directive.

The proposal extends the scope of the directive to small agglomerations and asks member states to set up plans for large cities to handle urban runoff from rainwater. It also introduces a binding energy neutrality target for the urban wastewater treatment sector to be met in each member state by 2040, along with interim targets in 2030 and 2035.

The general approach will serve as a mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament on the final shape of the legislation.

© European Union, 2023