The UN want us to keep our promise on climate action

Speaking at the UN General Assembly, Council president Charles Michel urged world leaders to take decisive action against climate change. K-pop band BTS also praised young people's engagement in climate issues.

Who represents the European Union at the UN General Assembly?

World leaders usually come together each year to address global challenges at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, a highlight in the diplomatic calendar. Over the years the European Union (EU) has established a strong relationship with the UN, and participates in the general debate.

The president of the European Council, currently Charles Michel, represents the EU on the international stage. He speaks on behalf of the European Union. The added value of the EU is that its member states coordinate among themselves to present a unified position.

Climate change – ‘winning the race against climate change and restoring our relationship with nature’- was one of the EU’s main priorities at the UNGA this year.

Speaking at the 76th UNGA on 24 September 2021, Charles Michel urged world leaders to join forces and take decisive action against climate change.

"No one can say: “I didn’t know”. [...] It is time to stop waging war against our natural world. It is time for humans to sign an armistice with nature. A peace treaty with our planet."

Charles Michel, President of the European Council

The discussions on the climate crisis at the UNGA prepared the ground for the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) which will take place in Glasgow, UK, from 31 October to 12 November 2021.

• UN climate conference (COP26)
• UN General Assembly, New York, 20-24 September 2021
• EU at the UN General Assembly

How is the EU keeping its promise?

Every day we see the growing impact of climate change. Severe floods, droughts, forest fires, and other extreme weather events in Europe are becoming more frequent in Europe and glaciers are melting faster than ever before. This has an impact on flora, fauna and, ultimately, ourselves.

Actions speak louder than words and EU countries are working together on joint action. The European Council coordinates policies to tackle climate issues and bring national governments onto a common path. The Council of the European Union takes decisive action by adopting laws where necessary.

Here are some actions being carried out by the EU:

• negotiating and implementing the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement
• setting the objective of becoming climate neutral by 2050
• increasing its emissions-reduction target to 55% by 2030

• Climate change: what the EU is doing
• European Green Deal
• 5 facts about the EU's goal of climate neutrality

Keeping the promise

This year’s UNGA attracted widespread interest from a younger audience - one million viewers - thanks to a heartfelt speech by the popular South Korean boy band BTS, who praised young people for their commitment to climate action.

The United Nations has always set targets and goals for each of its members to meet and uphold. The Sustainable Development Goals aim to ensure that all countries have the means to actively tackle climate change.

In 2021 the EU and the UN are working together in more than 170 countries on combating climate change.

The UN wants us all to keep our promises on climate action in a new digital campaign called ‘Keeping the Promise’. You too can promise to take action for a better future for all.

• Keeping the Promise for the Sustainable Development Goals