Once a global leader on climate action, the EU has given in to the right’s green-bashing | Nathalie Tocci

<p>From deforestation to emissions trading, vital policies are being watered down in the name of ‘competitiveness’. But Europe is shooting itself in the foot</p><p>Climate action has long been a flagship European policy. As negotiators gather in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/nov/11/cop-can-be-torturous-and-tedious-but-heres-why-its-worth-paying-attention-these-two-weeks">Brazil for Cop30</a>, however, Europe’s leadership risks faltering. Things were very different a decade ago in Paris, when a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/dec/13/paris-climate-deal-cop-diplomacy-developing-united-nations">landmark deal</a> to limit global heating to 1.5C was achieved at Cop21. That agreement relied on an understanding between the US and China – one that would be difficult to replicate today. Its ambition was elevated by Europe acting in concert with a broad coalition of global south countries.</p><p>The Paris climate agreement paved the way for the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/dec/11/european-green-deal-will-change-economy-to-solve-climate-crisis-says-eu">European Green Deal</a> in 2019, which enshrined into law the ambition of climate neutrality in the EU by 2050 and introduced the world’s first comprehensive plan to achieve it, featuring a robust set of pricing, regulatory and funding measures.</p><p>Nathalie Tocci is a Guardian Europe columnist</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/nov/14/global-leader-climate-action-eu-right-green-bashing">Continue reading...</a>