That would cost the EU its figurehead in international climate negotiations and the politician who drove through Europe's toughest measures yet to cut planet-warming emissions.
The move was at odds with the U.S., and faced ire from some EU countries who felt it gave too much away.
Ribera's role at the helm of Spain's green agenda is on the line after a snap election on Sunday ended with gridlock.
The EU wants to pass at least two more green policies before EU elections next year - the nature law and electricity market reforms.
Spain - whose current government typically backs ambitious EU climate policies - holds the EU's rotating presidency, and will chair EU countries' negotiations on all new laws until 2024.
Persons:
gridlock, Frans Timmermans, Michael Bloss, Timmermans, Teresa Ribera, Linda Kalcher, Ribera's, She's, Kalcher, Ribera, Emmanuel Macron, Pablo Simon, Carlos, Kate Abnett, Pietro Lombardi, Jonathan Oatis
Organizations:
EU, European, UN, Green, U.S, SECOND, gridlock, People's Party, Carlos III University, Thomson
Locations:
Spain, lurch BRUSSELS, Dutch, Santiago, Chile, Ribera, Europe, Italy