EU Environment MEPs Set COP31 Priorities: Faster Fossil Fuel Phase-Out, More Climate Finance

The European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety has adopted its draft resolution setting the EU’s negotiating priorities for COP31, calling for a faster global transition away from fossil fuels, scaled-up climate finance and stronger support for the world’s most vulnerable countries. The vote on October 1, 2026, positions the EU for the climate summit in Antalya, Türkiye, from November 9 to 20.

Committee Backs COP31 Priorities by 50 Votes to 16

The draft resolution on Parliament’s priorities for the UN Climate Change Conference was adopted by 50 votes to 16 with 3 abstentions during an ordinary meeting in Brussels. The full Parliament is expected to vote on the final resolution during its October 19 to 22 plenary session.

A delegation of 15 MEPs, headed by Lidia Pereira of the European People’s Party, will attend the Antalya talks from November 16 to 20, carrying the mandate into the negotiations.

Faster Phase-Out of Fossil Fuels

The committee urges all parties to advance the roadmap on transitioning away from fossil fuels agreed at COP30. MEPs call for the EU to take a leading role in negotiations toward a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty and for time-bound plans to phase out fossil fuel subsidies and production.

They want the EU to “lead by example with its own timeline and strategy for an economy-wide phase-out” of fossil fuels, and highlight that fossil fuel dependence creates vulnerabilities at a time of geopolitical instability, while decarbonisation strengthens the bloc’s strategic autonomy.

The resolution notes with concern that 2025 was one of the hottest years on record, that Europe remains the fastest-warming continent, and that preliminary data show EU emissions rose by 1 percent between 2024 and 2025, even though the bloc is on course to cut net greenhouse gas emissions by around 54 percent by 2030 compared with 1990 levels if member states fully implement existing and planned measures.

Scaling Up Climate Finance

MEPs stress that the gap between climate finance needs and what is currently provided is significant and growing, and call for it to be urgently addressed. While noting that the EU and its member states remain the largest providers of public climate finance, they call for continued increases, in particular through grants and highly concessional finance.

The text warns against double-counting or re-categorising existing funds to meet the new collective quantified goal on climate finance agreed at COP29, and calls for finance to be allocated so it does not worsen the debt burden on climate-vulnerable countries, giving priority to grant-based finance and debt relief instruments.

Adaptation, Loss and Damage

Noting that up to 3.6 billion people live in contexts highly vulnerable to climate change, the MEPs call for the rapid scaling-up of predictable and accessible finance for the fund responding to loss and damage, and for all parties to deliver on the goal of tripling adaptation finance by 2035.

They also call for the swift operationalisation of the just transition mechanism agreed at COP30, and for climate action to be paired with measures supporting green jobs, reskilling and social dialogue.

FAKTA

• The Environment Committee adopted the COP31 draft resolution on October 1, 2026, by 50 votes to 16 with 3 abstentions.
• COP31 takes place in Antalya, Türkiye, from November 9 to 20, 2026.
• Full Parliament vote on the resolution is set for the October 19 to 22 plenary session.
• A 15-MEP delegation led by Lidia Pereira (EPP) will attend the talks from November 16 to 20.
• MEPs flagged that EU emissions rose by 1 percent between 2024 and 2025, while the EU targets roughly 54 percent cuts by 2030.

Conclusion

The committee’s vote sets the EU’s opening bid for Antalya: an economy-wide fossil fuel exit strategy, honest climate finance accounting, and real money for adaptation and loss and damage. Whether that mandate survives the full plenary vote later this month will shape how hard Brussels pushes at the November summit.

Follow all of our COP31 Antalya coverage in the Watan News International English edition.

Frequently Asked Questions

When and where is COP31 held?

The 31st UN Climate Change Conference takes place in Antalya, Türkiye, from November 9 to 20, 2026.

What did the European Parliament committee decide on COP31?

On October 1, 2026, the Environment Committee adopted draft COP31 priorities: faster fossil fuel phase-out, scaled-up climate finance without double-counting, and stronger adaptation and loss-and-damage funding, by 50 votes to 16.

When does the full European Parliament vote on the COP31 resolution?

The plenary vote is scheduled for the October 19 to 22 session.

Who leads the EU delegation to COP31?

A 15-member delegation headed by Lidia Pereira of the European People’s Party will attend the talks from November 16 to 20.