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European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Remarks by Commissioner Hoekstra at the 10th Ministerial on Climate Action Brussels, 22 June 2026 Dear colleagues, dear friends, It is a great pleasure to welcome you to Brussels for the 10th session of the Ministerial on Climate Action, alongside my co-conveners China and Canada. Ten years ago, this forum was established to help build political momentum for the i...
European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Remarks by Commissioner Hoekstra at the 10th Ministerial on Climate Action Brussels, 22 June 2026 Dear colleagues, dear friends, It is a great pleasure to welcome you to Brussels for the 10th session of the Ministerial on Climate Action, alongside my co-conveners China and Canada. Ten years ago, this forum was established to help build political momentum for the implementation of the Paris Agreement. Over the past decade, it has provided a truly valuable space for ministerial dialogue, for upholding multilateralism and helping sustain international cooperation and support progress on climate action. Of course today, we meet at a different moment. Geopolitics are extremely volatile and difficult. The world has fundamentally changed in terms of the rule of law, in terms of illegal wars, in terms of cyberattacks, trade. Yet we need to act on climate change. The goals of the Paris Agreement are clear. The outcomes of the first Global Stocktake have provided clear guidance on what needs to happen next. Our main challenge now is implementation. Recent years have shown us, with unfortunately increased urgency, the consequences of a changing climate. Communities across the world are experiencing more frequent and more severe impacts. At the same time, the economic and geopolitical shocks demonstrated that the costs and vulnerabilities associated with the dependence on fossil fuels are truly significant. We need to act for climate, but also for competitiveness and independence. We cannot afford to depend on third countries. The response cannot be to slow down the transition. It must be to accelerate it. Electrification powered by clean energy offers a pathway towards greater energy security as well as access to energy, stronger competitiveness and industrialisation, lower long-term costs and enhanced resilience. Climate action, energy security and economic prosperity are mutually reinforcing and increasingly inseparable objectives. In a world where climate impacts are accelerating, the value of science has never been greater. Therefore, I wanted to reaffirm our strong support for the IPCC, for international scientific cooperation, and for the climate observation and data systems that underpin informed and evidence- based decision-making. Ambitious and implementable NDCs are among the most important tools we have, essential to keeping the goals of the Paris Agreement within reach. They provide the certainty needed by investors, businesses and citizens, and help chart a credible pathway towards low-emission and climate-resilient development. We need all countries that have not yet done so to submit their NDCs as soon as possible, and we encourage all colleagues present to support outreach efforts in view of reaching that objective. The first Global Stocktake has highlighted the need to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems, to scale up renewable energy, improve energy efficiency and strengthen resilience . Delivering on these outcomes is critical to maintaining confidence in the Paris Agreement process and keeping the 1.5°C goal within reach. Ladies and gentlemen, The outcomes agreed at COP30 provide an opportunity to move further from commitments to implementation. Advancing the Action Agenda and promoting discussions on the transition away from fossil fuels, including the roadmaps to be presented by the COP 30 Presidency can help mobilise investment, strengthen cooperation and accelerate delivery across sectors and regions. The positive spirit of the Santa Marta Conference demonstrated growing momentum behind this agenda. During this session we also have an opportunity to look at some of the key issues that in our views will shape COP31. These include the review of the mitigation work programme, Mission 1.5°C, the Global Implementation Accelerator. We also hope to increase understanding on how to operationalise the Just Transition mechanism and ensuring it can help Parties in promoting a transition that is fair, inclusive and responsive to national circumstances. As climate impacts become unfortunately increasingly severe and felt across all regions of the world, climate resilience planning remains key. Greater coherence across planning and reporting instruments will be essential to streamline efforts, improve effectiveness, and help turn adaptation priorities into concrete action on the ground. In the years ahead we must continue building the political conditions, partnerships and trust necessary to translate our collective objectives into action. We must maintain momentum and strengthen implementation in a way that is mutually beneficial and also overcomes the concerns we have on the level playing field. The European Union remains fully committed to multilateral cooperation and to working with all partners to advance implementation and accelerate progress. At the same time, we need to advance with willing partners when possible. Look at the TAFF conference. Let's continue to push for plurilateral initiatives just as well. Ladies and gentlemen, The 10th Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to help shape what the next decade of climate cooperation must deliver . I very much look forward to our conversations, I want to thank once again my two co-hosts for being here and for organising this with us. Thank you. SPEECH/26/1404 Press contacts: Anna-Kaisa ITKONEN (+32 2 29 57501) Ana CRESPO PARRONDO (+32 2 29 81325) General public inquiries: Europe Direct by phone 00 800 67 89 10 11 or by email
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