Meeting in Luxembourg on 21 October 2025, EU environment and climate ministers adopted conclusions at October’s EU Environment Council meeting, preparing the bloc’s common position for the 2025 UN Climate Change Conference (COP30), due to take place in Belém, Brazil, from 10 to 21 November.

The conclusions of the EU Environment Council will guide the EU’s negotiating line at COP30, which marks the tenth anniversary of the Paris Agreement. Parties are expected to present new national climate commitments showing whether the 1.5°C temperature limit remains achievable. Ministers reaffirmed the EU’s support for multilateral climate cooperation and called for stronger global action to meet the Paris goals.

According to the conclusions, the EU wants COP30 to deliver a clear outcome on ambition and implementation. The document highlights the need to triple renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency improvements by 2030, as well as to accelerate the deployment of low- and zero-emission technologies and phase out fossil fuel energy production and consumption worldwide.

Danish Climate Minister Laars Aagaard, who chaired the meeting, said the EU now has “a strong European mandate for COP30” and must leave Belém “with a clear path forward to keep 1.5 within reach.”

Ministers also endorsed conclusions on the European Water Resilience Strategy, presented by the Commission in June. The strategy seeks to restore and protect Europe’s water cycle, strengthen infrastructure, and ensure access to safe and affordable water while addressing growing drought and scarcity risks.

Magnus Heunicke, Danish Minister for environment and gender equality says:

“Europe’s water and ocean resources are under growing pressure from pollution, waste and climate change. As the fastest-warming continent, Europe face more droughts, floods and water scarcity than ever before. These challenges know no borders — they demand strong, united European action. With the progress we made today on the Water Resilience Strategy and the Ocean Pact, we are stepping up joint efforts to protect our freshwater and oceans through a more coordinated and holistic approach that safeguards climate, biodiversity and future generations.”

Environment ministers further exchanged views on the proposed European Ocean Pact, an initiative linking marine protection, the blue economy, and coastal community resilience. They supported revising the Marine Strategy Framework Directive to simplify reporting, align EU policies, and better integrate climate considerations into ocean governance.

The next step will be to translate these positions into the EU’s formal negotiating package for COP30.