Brussels, 05/06/2014 (Agence Europe) - The G7 appears to have taken on board the latest warning by the IPCC. Aware of the urgent need to act to keep the average increase in temperatures below 2°C compared to the pre-industrial era, it confirmed, in Brussels on Thursday 5 June, its determination to adopt an ambitious global climate agreement with force of law and applicable to all countries, at the UN conference of Paris (COP 25, December 2015).
In this regard, the G7 members confirmed their intentions of presenting their offers of contributions to the collective effort by 31 March 2015, for those which are ready, and call on the other parties to do the same. They attach the same level of ambition to the success of the preparatory summit called by the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, for 23 September in New York.
They also reaffirmed the commitment they took in 2009 to mobilise, between now and 2020 and using public and private money, $100 billion a year to help developing countries fight climate change and adapt to the phenomenon.
Speaking to the press, Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, highlighted the importance of “coordinating our approach to ensure success in Paris”, and confirmed that the decision on the European offer would be made at the European Council of October. Reiterating that, “in order to protect the environment and ensure the security of energy supply, it is extremely important that we step up our efforts to achieve the climate change objectives”, José Manuel Barroso, President of the Commission, described himself as “optimistic” about the Paris conference. “Around the table, you could see that this was really the deadline. We hope to achieve a multilateral agreement”, he said.
François Hollande, President of the host country of this decisive conference, was satisfied with the results of the meeting. “For France, it was extremely important to have the backing of the G7 for the objective which must be the success of the climate conference at the end of 2015. President Obama has already made strong announcements on reducing the use of coal in electricity power stations in the United States and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Europeans, who have already taken action towards this objective, will have to make further decisions in October”, the French president said (our translation). He added that “China is aware of what global warming and its consequences could represent; it also wants this conference to be a success. And then there are other countries which are the most concerned, the most affected, Africa, Asia, who will also be mobilised”.
President Barack Obama pledged that the United States would “continue to do its part”, as shown by the announcement made three days ago of a reduction of 17% in emissions from American electricity power stations by 2013 compared to 2005 figures. “This is the first time that there will be targets”, he stressed, going on to point out that “every nation has to do its share, all major economies, including China”.
Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country currently holds the Presidency of the G7, will make climate change a priority for the summit of the most industrialised countries of June 2015. (AN with EH, MB, CG)