The COP26 conference in Glasgow ended with 197 parties redoubling their commitment to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and finance. In a nod to the importance of multilateralism in the face of a global crisis, the EU and the US played a significant role alongside the conference host, the UK, in brokering global consensus on climate goals.
Achieving the goals of COP26: the work starts now
The COP26 conference in Glasgow ended with 197 parties redoubling their commitment to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and finance. In a nod to the importance of multilateralism in the face of a global crisis, the EU and the US played a significant role alongside the conference host, the UK, in brokering global consensus on climate goals.

Following two weeks of intense but constructive negotiations, world leaders made notable commitments to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Considerable steps forward were also taken to reduce methane emissions, end deforestation, accelerate the phasedown of coal, and speed up the transition towards zero emissions cars.
Private sector action guided by transatlantic and international cooperation will be key to unlock further progress in achieving net zero. American businesses in Europe are committed to playing their part in reaching the aims of the Glasgow Pact. As proponents of green innovation, AmCham EU supports the emphasis placed on climate finance and investment in low carbon technologies to accelerate the transition to a net zero economy. Many such technologies are currently being developed by US companies.
As world leaders turn to the task of implementing their goals, the American business community in Europe calls on policymakers to create the right conditions to enable innovation and scale-up of the technologies required to put us on the path to net zero.
Check out AmCham EU’s vision for the future of climate policy here.
Photo credit: UNFCCC
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EU-Mercosur vote: a self-inflicted setback to Europe's strategic interests
The European Parliament’s decision to refer the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement (FTA) to the Court of Justice adds a further delay to one of the EU’s most important and long-running trade initiatives.
Commenting on the vote, Malte Lohan, CEO of AmCham EU, said: ‘Today’s vote by the European Parliament to refer the EU-Mercosur agreement to the Court of Justice is a self-inflicted setback for Europe’s economic interests and geopolitical relevance at a moment when the EU can least afford it.
After 25 years of negotiations, this should have been Europe stepping forward as a global trade leader and champion of win-win partnerships. It was an opportunity to strengthen Europe’s global position, diversify supply chains and open new opportunities in a fast-growing market of 284 million people.
Instead, this vote has chosen - yet again - delay.
Europe’s credibility as a trade powerhouse is now on the line. The EU must move decisively to get this agreement back on track.’
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Reduce, reuse, reinsulate
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