EU recommits to 2050 climate-neutral target at COP31

The European Union has recommitted to its target of becoming climate-neutral by 2050 and to delivering climate financing to countries who need it most.

Ireland is helping to lead negotiations for the EU at the COP31 climate change conference in Antalya, Turkey as part of its EU Presidency.

"Europe will be climate-neutral by 2050. We are on track to cut emissions by 55% by 2030 and our 2040 target is to cut emissions by 90%," Director for Climate Finance Diana Acconcia told a press conference at the summit.

"We need an outcome which acknowledges the overshoot of the Paris Agreement goals and gets us back towards 1.5C. Europe stands on the side of science and we hope by the end of COP, an overwhelming majority of our partners will stand with us."

Philip Nugent represented Ireland's EU Presidency at the press conference and said a central priority for member states is "moving from commitments to delivery, strengthening resilience and accelerating transition".

"Adaptation remains a core priority. We need to accelerate practical action through stronger early warning systems, improved preparedness and better access to support vulnerable communities," he said.

"Equally important is ensuring that the transition to a low emission climate resilient future is fair, inclusive and achievable. The transition will only succeed if people and communities are brought with us."

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Climate financing has been a big discussion point this week at the conference with developing nations calling for support in facing the impacts of climate change.

The UN’s 2026 Adaptation Gap Report estimates that developing countries will need around $305 billion annually by 2035 to build climate resilience and reduce risks.

In 2025, the European Union provided €32.3bn in public climate finance to developing countries, according to data published by the Council of the European Union.

Mr Nugent said the EU remains "very focused on access to climate finance and making sure we take practical steps to secure access for the poorest and most vulnerable".

When asked how the negotiations are going so far, he said: "The business end is still ahead of us, but so far so good."

Ireland to publish roadmap next week

Ireland will publish its roadmap for transitioning away from fossil fuels next week.

The timeline for its release was announced at the COP31 climate change conference in Turkey.

One of the big criticisms of last year's conference in Brazil was that it concluded without a formal plan for phasing out fossil fuels in its official negotiating text. The COP30 presidency came to Antalya with a timeline proposal.

"We welcome the work of the COP30 presidency on the Transitioning Away From Fossil Fuels (TAFF) roadmap," Mr Nugent said.

"Ireland will publish its TAFF roadmap next week."

Ireland is helping to lead negotiations for the EU at the climate conference as part of its EU Presidency.

Mr Nugent said negotiations have been going well so far, but the "business end is still ahead of us".