Brussels, 29/08/2012 (Agence Europe) - A further round of informal United Nations climate change negotiations is to open on Thursday in Bangkok at the level of experts (30 August-5 September). The European Union expects that this new session, which forms part of preparations for the annual UN ministerial conference on climate change (COP 18, Doha, Qatar, at the end of the year), will allow the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (established to develop a new global climate agreement to be concluded in 2015 before taking effect in 2020) to take up the core of the subject after agreement had been reached in Bonn in May this year on extending its working agenda. As usual, the European Commission and the Cypriot presidency of the EU Council will negotiate on behalf of the EU.
The EU considers it important that the options for resolving matters still outstanding should be clarified in Bangkok. This includes the duration of the period of commitment and the key rules to be applied, so that they may be finalised in Doha. The EU will also be looking for greater clarity on how to terminate the existing working group on long-term cooperative action, in Doha.
The Bangkok session will tackle the following issues: the extent of commitments to reduce and limit emissions in the post-2012 period (i.e. the second period of commitments under the Kyoto Protocol) and the rules that will be a framework for these more ambitious emissions reductions in order to keep the goal of holding global warming below 2° C within reach; the making available of funding for development countries ($100 billion annually by 2020) to support those countries in their adaptation and mitigation efforts; - reactions to the limited action taken by the United States and Canada that have resolutely turned their back on the Kyoto Protocol; and progress towards consensus on a working plan for the comprehensive post-2020 agreement. (AN/transl.jl)