Ahead of the decisive phase of COP30 negotiations in Belém, the Socialists and Democrats are sounding a clear warning against any attempt to weaken key commitments painstakingly secured in previous international climate conferences, particularly concerning the phase-out of fossil fuels – the single greatest cause of the climate crisis. With an agreement still uncertain, the S&Ds call on all leaders to hold the line and deliver genuine progress in the global fight against climate change. 

S&D negotiators in Belém – Mohammed Chahim, Annalisa Corrado and Heléne Fritzon – underline that the EU must continue to lead by example through robust greenhouse-gas reduction policies at home, but we also expect our global partners to commit to continuous ambition on climate change mitigation.

Mohammed Chahim, S&D co-vice-president for the Green Deal, said: 

“Over the past years, the international community has agreed – repeatedly and unequivocally – on the need to transition away from fossil fuels. Any backtracking now, any watering down of that collective commitment, would be unacceptable. It would put lives, livelihoods, and the credibility of the entire COP process at risk.

“The Socialists and Democrats have consistently pushed for strong climate action in Europe, and we stand by that. But European ambition alone is not enough. We expect – and the planet demands – a continuous global commitment to decarbonising economies and accelerating the phase-out of fossil fuels.

“At a moment when unity and scientific clarity are essential, today's unhelpful comments from European Commission President von der Leyen risk undermining the efforts of the European Union at COP30. Decoupling fossil-fuel use and emissions is unscientific, irresponsible, and damaging to the EU’s climate leadership on the world stage. ‘Carbon capture and storage’ alone won't get ourselves out of the climate emergency. As the EU commissioner for climate once said: we cannot CCS ourselves out of everything. That remains as true today as ever.

“This weekend is a final opportunity to deliver a meaningful agreement. The world cannot afford anything less.”