By Martin Banks

Greens MEPs say they are pessimistic about the prospects of the latest global climate event yielding any firm results.

Michael Bloss and were speaking in Brussels as world leaders and negotiators gathered in Antalya, Turkey, for COP31.

Both agree that Antalya will be a crucial moment for the world to move forward on the phase-out of fossil fuels, at a time when record heatwaves, floods and wildfires show the climate crisis is already here.

The EU’s role will be essential in securing global momentum in the fight against climate change, they say.

But, speaking to this website before leaving for the talks, Bloss said he had little hope that 2 of the 3 things he hoped the conference might produce will actually happen.

The two are, he said, a greater commitment to phasing out fossil fuels and, secondly, encouraging the EU to come up with more financing for tackling climate change.

Bloss, who will be attending his 8th COP conference,  said, “I expect nothing I have to say on these two things, especially without the US at the table”

 The only positive outcome he foresees, he said, is on renewable-based electrification.

He is critical of the role of the EU on climate issues, saying it is guilty of providing “too little leadership.”

“The idea of a rules based order is being challenged like never before and the  EU is right, of course, in defending it (rules based).But climate issues are central to this and the EU needs to provide more leadership in slowing the climate crisis. At present, I do not see that happening,” he said.

 He pointed out that  this was all the more necessary as Europe, in recent years, had been the “one continent in the world” that is experiencing climate change at its most acute.

Despite reservations in some quarters, he still believes the COP events  have a role to play.

He said, “Yes, there are things may be more fit for purpose but, even so, I still think we would be worse off without it (COP).”

His comments are partly echoed by his group colleague Kai Tegethoff, also a German MEP, who will also attend the talks and told this site he expects COP31 to focus on electrification, saying, “I do understand the reasons for that.”

But he also hopes the conference will “still talk about”  other issues, particularly phasing out fossil fuels and climate adaptation.

He too looks to the EU for more of a leadership role in the talks, saying, “It has lost this a bit but its role is to be demanding on the global stage. The question is: Is is ready to act?”

He is particularly scathing of the principle of unanimity at the COP talks.

At the event the long-standing rule of unanimity (consensus) is facing severe scrutiny and active circumvention by frustrated nations.

Under the standard United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) rules, formal decisions require consensus among all 198 parties, meaning a single objecting country can stall or veto global progress.

The MEP says that while this needs reforming he still believes the COP conference is a “valuable” chance for all parties to “come together and to see where we land.”

Speaking separately, Ciarán Cuffe, Co-Chair of the European Green Party, said, “With the US federal government once again absent from the climate negotiations, Europe must lead the global transition.”

Vula Tsetsi, Co-Chair of the European Green Party, said, “The EU cannot claim to be a global leader on climate change while weakening the European Green Deal and rolling back its own commitments. Europe must lead by example, ending public subsidies for fossil fuels and building a coalition for a fossil-free future.”