Germany and France to develop 2050 EU strategy for long-term carbon neutrality

Germany and France have agreed to develop a 2050 European Union strategy for long-term decarbonisation, both governments said in a declaration following a joint ministerial meeting near Berlin. This is not only a necessity, but also an economic opportunity, they said, adding that “the only appropriate answer” to challenges like climate change lies in European cooperation. The countries also agreed to ensure the EU makes new commitments at the COP24 UN climate conference in Poland later this year and updates its nationally determined contribution (NDC) by early 2020. At the meeting, Germany and France also set up a joint inter-ministerial High Level Working Group on climate change, to support “ambitious implementation” of the Paris Agreement. The working group will “debate common positions on the energy transition, as well as instruments to support sustainable financing, and economic incentives including a price on CO₂”.

Find the declaration in English here and the press release on the high level working group in German here.

Read the article Merkel pledges stronger climate action globally and at home for more detail.