EU Climate Diplomacy

Key points

The EESC:

• underlines that the current climate crisis is of an existential nature and urges all stakeholders to take an immediate, real and bold action;
• calls for upgrading the Climate Diplomacy to the status of flagship action of the EU's external affairs and foreign policy;
• acknowledges the work that has been done so far and praises the role of the EU as a "leadiator" in international climate negotiations combining leadership and mediation in shaping international climate action responses which encompass both the causes (mitigation) and the consequences (adaptation) of climate change;
• firmly promotes a broader view of European climate diplomacy, which entails an array of different actions involving not only state but also non-state actors and civil society organisations, private stakeholders, businesses, and trade unions;
• calls on EU to spearhead and develop infrastructure, finance, and governance pathways by mobilizing public and private financial sources to assist partner and neighbouring countries to manage the impacts of the European Green Deal;
• encourages the EU to adopt a comprehensive strategy of climate diplomacy with short- and long-term priorities, that would integrate climate actions into all fields of external action (including security and defence, trade, investments, transport, migration, development cooperation, financial and technical assistance, culture and health);
• urges Member States to ensure a better coordination in order to align their foreign policy with climate imperatives and the EU Green Deal goals
• invites the EU institutions to enrich the climate diplomacy toolbox with initiatives aiming not only to raise climate ambitions but also to share the EU’s experience and address climate-related risks.
• recalls its proposals for establishing a Civil Society Climate Diplomacy Network and for strengthening the Domestic Advisory Groups (DAGs);