The European Union’s commissioner responsible for climate, net zero and clean growth has said the time for action is now as the world gears up to the crucial COP 30 meeting in Brazil.

Speaking at the 9th Ministerial on Climate Action (MoCA) held in Ottawa, Wopke Hoekstra (pic) said the stakes were too high for the world to fail in its climate ambitions.

The MoCA meetings are co-convened by Canada, China, and the European Union to advance climate action under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement.

Hoekstra told the meeting: “We are heading into COP30 with a clear vision at a truly important moment.

“The geopolitical landscape has rarely been more complex. It is true that we have been saying that at least for the last three, four years, but unfortunately every single year, it was also more true than the year before.

“The irony is the planet and our ecosystem do not care whether it is easy or difficult, whether we discuss or not. They only care about actions we take. And we need more of that.”

He continued: “What I would like to once again stress is that the European Union will continue to do its utmost, even under these circumstances, [ at COP30] in Belém to uphold its commitment to multilateralism and to the Paris Agreement, which continues to be the absolute cornerstone of our actions, underscoring the progress that has been achieved.

“The overall message for all of us is clear: we must do more, and we must do it together. More together.”

Hoekstra explained the objective should be to continue to move the needle.

“First, by enhancing the collective ambition and implementation of our NDCs,” he added. “Let’s make sure we all show to the world that the Paris Agreement is actually delivering and is driving real progress. And that it has not only managed to do so in the ten years we have behind us, but that it is an engine for change and for progress in the years to come.

“Second, by providing the right economic incentives through carbon pricing and carbon markets. I salute the very close collaboration we have with China on this, but also with many others around this table and outside of this room.”

“Third, by building resilience, preparedness, and adaptation everywhere – because it is something that is truly needed everywhere. Because a just transition must also protect those on the frontlines of this crisis,” Hoekstra told the event. “Fourth and last, by reaffirming our commitment to our collective climate finance commitments, including the new goal on climate finance set in Baku, and recognising the need to urgently scale up accessible finance from all sources, in particular for LDCs and SIDS and for adaptation.”

He concluded: “It is a moment for courage and cooperation. For proving that multilateralism works — that it can rise above short-term interests and difficult politics to deliver sustainable results for us and all who come after us.”