EU's von der Leyen calls for "concrete plans" on climate issues

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BRUSSELS, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Global powers must be ready to present "concrete plans" at the Glasgow's COP26 to fight global warming, said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday.

Delivering her second State of the Union speech before the European Parliament, von der Leyen underlined the importance of translating climate goals into legislation.

She said that "Major economies - from the U.S. to Japan - have set ambitions for climate neutrality in 2050 or shortly after. These need now to be backed up by concrete plans in time for Glasgow. Because current commitments for 2030 will not keep global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius within reach. Every country has a responsibility!".

The 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, dubbed COP26, will be hosted by Glasgow in Britain between Oct. 31 and Nov. 12, 2021.

The European Union (EU) has taken leadership with its Green Deal, an ambitious plan aiming to make the EU climate neutral by 2050, von der Leyen added.

Last year, von der Leyen had announced a short-term goal of cutting down greenhouse gas emissions by 55 percent compared to the 1990 level, by 2030. The "Fit for 55" package, a European Commission legislation proposal with detailed policies to reach the goal, was presented to EU lawmakers this summer.

"We are the first major economy to present comprehensive legislation in order to get it done," said von der Leyen.

The European Commission president also called on other global powers to help the least developed and vulnerable countries.

The EU will double its external funding for biodiversity. Von der Leyen also pledged an additional four billion euros (around 4.7 billion U.S. dollars) for climate finance until 2027.

"Closing the climate finance gap together - the United States and the EU - would be a strong signal for global climate leadership," said von der Leyen.

The two global powers are working together on deepening their link, developing their "new agenda for global change." Areas of cooperation include the establishment of the new Trade and Technology Council, as well as health security and sustainability, according to von der Leyen.

The green transition wanted by von der Leyen is also aimed at gearing society towards digitalization. Enditem

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