Peter Liese, the environment policy lead for the EPP, expressed skepticism about the EU's ability to achieve a 90% emissions reduction by 2040 during a debate in Strasbourg on Tuesday. This discussion focused on the COP29 agreement reached after two weeks of difficult negotiations in Baku, Azerbaijan.
European climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra has pledged to propose a binding 90% emissions reduction target compared to a 1990 baseline, the minimum recommended by the EU's scientific advisory panel. However, Liese questioned whether this target was achievable. He warned that if hard-right and conservative groups continue to oppose EU climate policies, the target might not have enough support to pass.
Liese also emphasized that any interim 2035 target—required by the Paris Agreement—must be realistic and based on comprehensive impact assessments.
Liese's views on climate change stood in contrast to those of some far-right figures. Spanish Vox party lawmaker Jorge Buxadé twice declined to confirm his belief in climate change, while Liese called it "one of the greatest challenges of our political generation." Liese defended the UN climate negotiation process and the COP summit, dismissing criticism of its approach. "I haven't met anyone who has come up with a better method," he said.
Hoekstra described how negotiations at COP29 nearly collapsed over disagreements between developing countries and small island nations, who pushed for $1.3 trillion in annual funding from developed nations. The final agreement, which called for $300 billion per year starting in 2035, was criticized by nationalist and far-right groups as potentially damaging to Europe's economy.
Some left-of-centre MEPs also voiced dissatisfaction with the financial commitments, with Mohamed Chahim (Netherlands/Socialists & Democrats) calling the agreed funding insufficient. "At this pace, it will take a hundred years to get to the level of funding we need," he said.
The debate also raised concerns about the COP presidency, which has been held by Azerbaijan for the third time in a row, despite its fossil fuel-dependent economy. MEP Annalise Corrado (Italy/S&D) criticized the EU's own reliance on fossil fuels, arguing that it hindered the EU's ability to confront autocrats and human rights abuses.
Austrian Green MEP Lena Schilling, who met with Azerbaijani dissidents during the summit, shared that she received numerous messages praising the summit as a success and her criticism as a failure. Schilling highlighted the struggles of imprisoned journalists and civil society activists in Azerbaijan, accusing the country of using COP29 to "greenwash" its regime. "You failed," Schilling declared.
Hoekstra concluded by aligning with MEPs who emphasized the importance of following the scientific consensus on climate change. He warned that the cost of inaction would far outweigh the cost of taking action today.