The European Union urged the international community to accelerate the global energy transition, calling for a shift from commitment to implementation on tripling renewable capacity and doubling energy efficiency by 2030, in a statement delivered at the UN General Assembly Interactive Dialogue on 24 July 2026. The EU highlighted its own legislative advances in renewables, efficiency, grids, and storage, and stressed the need to support partner countries, particularly in Africa, through investments under the Global Gateway strategy.
The statement, delivered on behalf of the EU and its Member States at the New York meeting, comes ten years after the Paris Agreement entered into force. The EU noted that while progress has been made, the world remains off track to keep 1.5°C within reach. It reaffirmed the UAE Consensus direction to transition away from fossil fuels in a just, orderly and equitable manner.
The EU pointed to its recent energy crisis as a lesson that reinforced the vulnerabilities of fossil fuel dependence and accelerated domestic diversification, demand reduction, and clean energy scaling. It also referenced its participation at London Climate Action Week, where it joined COP31 and COP32 presidencies and other partners to expand electrification and cut methane emissions.
Through Global Gateway, the EU said it supports sustainable investments linking energy with transport, digital, health, education, water, jobs, and local value creation. The aim is to maximise positive spillovers for communities, strengthen resilience, and ensure the green transition also supports poverty reduction, gender equality, climate action and sustainable growth.
The statement did not announce new financial commitments or specific targets beyond existing pledges. It called for stronger international cooperation and shared momentum, urging the dialogue to help move from fragmented efforts to coordinated implementation.