A delegation from the European Parliament (EP), led by Portuguese Social Democratic MEP Lídia Pereira, is currently in Belém, Brazil, to attend the United Nations climate conference, as announced on Monday.
Lídia Pereira, a member of the PSD party affiliated with the European People’s Party, will be in Belém from today through Friday. The conference aims to establish commitments for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and finding solutions to mitigate climate change effects. The EP delegation will also engage with leaders from various countries.
In the statement from the European institution, Lídia Pereira emphasized the need for “concrete actions” on the tenth anniversary of the Paris Agreement. On November 13, the EP approved a proposal targeting a 90% reduction in European Union (EU) emissions by 2040 and postponed the implementation of greenhouse gas emission licenses.
The report received 379 votes in favor, 248 against, and ten abstentions. It outlines a goal for a 90% decrease in pollutant emissions by 2040 and defers the emissions trading license system for greenhouse gases until 2028. Additionally, a report will be produced every two years to monitor progress across the 27 EU countries and to reassess goals for the next 15 years.
The approved report also aims to ensure that efforts against climate change and ecological transition enhance the competitiveness of Europe’s political-economic bloc. The primary objective remains carbon neutrality by 2050, although concerns regarding the targets have emerged from various sectors, especially the automotive industry.
Member States will have more flexibility in implementing ecological measures while adhering to the 2040 goal aligned with EU objectives. Following this vote, negotiations between Member States and the European Parliament will begin to finalize and enforce the law.
Lídia Pereira, who served as shadow rapporteur alongside Catarina Martins from the Bloco, stated that the approval signifies Europe’s commitment to leading in climate transition and that the ambition for carbon neutrality by 2050 is still “alive.” The PSD acknowledged the challenges in securing support in the EP Environment Committee, but the plenary vote demonstrated that the EU continues to forge balanced solutions, merging ambition with realism in global climate action.
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