Remarks by Commissioner Hoekstra at the High-Level Segment for Heads of State and Government

Remarks by Commissioner Hoekstra at the High-Level Segment

Dear friends, colleagues,

The European Union has come to this COP with high ambition.

Ever since the Paris Agreement, we have had a goal in mind: a temperature limit that we must not and cannot pass, for the sake of our lives and those of next generations.

Science is crystal clear: if we want to truly limit the impacts of the climate crisis, if we want to offer next generations a chance at a safe future, 1.5-degrees should be our joint aim.

We know the direction we need to go in. We also see that the change is happening. But we need to speed it up.

Report after report shows that the window to keep global temperature rise limited is closing.

That is not my opinion or that of the European Union, this is scientific consensus, based on endless data, and supported by what we all see happening all across the globe, each and every day.

Ladies and gentlemen,

We can have our own opinion, but there's no arguing with facts. We need to significantly speed up.

The Global Stocktake should be where we take up the baton. Let this be a race, a race to net zero, a race for a better future for all of us.

The options put on the table by the Presidency present a clear choice.

We need to:

• Peak emissions by 2025
• Achieve 43% emissions reductions globally by 2030 [compared to 2019]
• And new NDC's that are fully aligned with the 1.5-degree temperature goal

And… I've said it earlier this week and I am going to repeat it: I want this COP to mark the beginning of the end for fossil fuels.

That's not just words.

It's what science demands, and what our kids deserve.

So, dear colleagues,

There is an opportunity here for all of us to lead, and we applaud our COP28 president, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, for the leadership he has shown to date.

The loss and damage fund has been launched, with over half a billion dollars-worth of pledges already.

I also commend Dr. Sultan and his team for the smooth proceedings so far.

But it cannot stop here.

As the President himself has said: what matters is what we deliver at the end of this COP.

The European Union is here to work with all Parties to set us on a path to Net Zero.

Our door is open, our comfortable shoes are on, and we have a great coffee machine.

So I am ready to sit down with you my friends, at any hour of the day or night, anywhere at the venue.

Thank you!