Brussels- One might expect a policy discussion convened by an MEP from the European Parliament’s ‘The Left’ group to be an ideologically homogeneous affair, preaching to its own choir. But the opposite unfolded last Thursday, when a session titled “EU Climate Action: From COP 29 Baku to COP 30 Belém” drew a crowd that included the Greek left to far‑right newcomers.
A Cross‑Party Audience
The meeting was called by Greek SYRIZA MEP Nikolaos Farantouris, whose invitation list was comprised of policy analysts, Brussels think‑tankers, and representatives of every major Greek party, including New Democracy (EPP), PASOK (S&D) and even NIKI, the ultra‑conservative far-right party. A delegation of academics, journalists and business leaders from Greece completed the eclectic mix.
Journalist Cheryl Novak speaking about the impact of geopolitics on climate diplomacy ahead of COP30, at the event on “EU Climate Action: From COP 29 Baku to COP 30 Belém” held at the EP on May
Farantouris set the tone in his opening remarks: “Tectonic shifts have been underway over the past six months, but our group’s position is that the EU should keep it’s pace with fighting climate change. [Climate] isn’t just an idea; it’s a threat and a challenge we must tackle effectively.”
The Green Deal on the Defensive
The conversation soon turned to the political headwinds buffeting EU climate policy and an exchange of opinions on whether the EU should double down or backtrack on its climate ambitions. The center‑right ruling European People’s Party (EPP), which holds 188 seats in the EP, is urging Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to ease regulations in favor of industry and farmers, meaning The Left’s 46 deputies, who want a stronger but more inclusive Green Deal in Europe and more climate leadership, will face an uphill battle in making climate ambition a priority again.
As Parliament President Roberta Metsola explained in a recent speech on Europe at a cross-roads, she says the EU’s voters made it clear last year that they felt “pushed too far, too fast,” meaning the bloc must listen to its people’s needs and modify its policies.
Washington’s Retreat
Domestic pressures for less climate regulations are exacerbated by US President Donald Trump administration’s dissolution of the U.S.’s own climate agenda. Since returning to the White House in January 2025, Trump has announced the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, frozen the $5 billion EV‑charging program, ordered agencies to unravel dozens of climate regulations and programs, and demanded U.S. banks exit climate finance coalitions.
In a shocking announcement this month, he also promised to unilaterally allow deep-sea mining, which experts say is in violation of international law. Clearly the U.S. cannot be looked-to for climate leadership at a federal level at COP30, but signs point to ‘resistance’ at the state level and a desire to undertake local climate action.
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump gestures as he boards Air Force One en route to New Jersey, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, U.S., May 23, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard/File Photo
A Call for More Climate Ambition in the EU
Offering an example of how growth and decarbonization can coexist, Swedish Left MEP Jonas Sjöstedt highlighted at the event in Brussels that Sweden is on track for its Paris targets, runs largely on renewables, and enjoys some of Europe’s lowest electricity prices. Meanwhile, Greece’s Mertens to the country’s permanent mission to the EP, Vasilis Theocharidis of the conservative New Democracy party, reiterated Athens’ commitment to climate ambition, intimating that a compromise may indeed be found between positions on the left and right.
Theocharidis noted Greece’s prioritization of the fight against climate change, which is already felt within the country, and the related actions it has taken, which include deep‑sea electricity interconnectors to transfer renewable energy and the retirement of lignite-burning power plants. The Mertens also said that Greece plans to support hydrogen hubs (although it has failed to absorb almost any of the funding available in this area), and is investing in LNG to help Europe ensure energy security and independence from Russian gas. On this last point, Greek environmentalists have repeatedly noted that LNG is still “dirty” and accounts for the country’s recent peaks in CO2 emissions.
08 April 2018,’Germany, Sassnitz: Offshore wind mills at the Baltic Sea wind park ‘Wikinger’ (lit. Vikings) of energy supplier Iberdrola at the Baltic Sea in front of the island of Ruegen. ‘ NO WIRE SERVICE ‘ Photo by: Stefan Sauer/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images
Global Emissions Rising
Energy analyst Dimitris Tsekeris brought the debate back to the sobering scientific data: 2024 closed as the hottest year on record, with global temperatures topping 1.5 °C above pre‑industrial averages, despite the world spending 2024 in the La Nina cooling pattern. He also looked at the path to net zero and presented sophisticated climate modeling which indicates that current pledges leave the planet on at least a 3‑4 °C trajectory, which represents a huge climate ambition gap. Moreover, inequities in energy access are widening, despite the availability of ‘easy solutions’ such as renewable energy communities.
Is the Path to COP30 Chinese?
With both Brussels and Washington wavering, the world is drifting towards a climate‑leadership gap at a critical juncture, with emissions set to rise further and more financing needed to help developing countries adapt as climate change impacts harder on communities. Realism demands that we prepare for greyer skies. At the same time, China-whose emissions appear to be peaking even as its economy has grown over 200% since 1990-is now supplying 32 % of global renewable energy. This raises the question of whether it will seek to play a more central role in climate diplomacy, though Chinese climate leadership would certainly not come in the familiar Western mold.
An activist stands during a closing plenary meeting at the COP29 United Nations Climate Change Conference, in Baku, Azerbaijan November 24, 2024. REUTERS/Murad Sezer
Europe can still lead at Belém, but only if it speaks with one voice. Between now and November, the EP will need to prove to its own people that climate ambition and industrial strength can progress hand-in-hand. Meanwhile it must press its global partners to raise adaptation finance to the €1.3 trillion annually that experts demand, and champion local climate action, the restoration of ecosystems, and the harnessing of AI to find new solutions. For a meaningful contribution at COP30, Europe must arrive in the Amazon ready to lead, or watch others fill the gap.
