Brussels, 16/01/2015 (Agence Europe) - The UN climate change conference in Paris (COP 21, December 2015) is to be discussed at the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on 19 January. European Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Cañete and High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini will inform the foreign affairs minister of an EU action plan for climate diplomacy. The ministers will hold an exchange of views with Arias Cañete on how to coordinate future contacts with third countries better, so as to support the conclusion of a world climate agreement in Paris that is legally binding and has all parties on board.
“We need to see how, by the time of the conference in Paris, the European Union and its institutions can speak to the partners in order to mobilise all their good will so that COP 21 is a success”, said a senior EU official on Friday 16 January.
The Commission wants to step up climate diplomacy throughout the year. Its action plan therefore has three main axes: (1) it is proposing to make climate change a strategic priority in the political dialogue with partners - especially at the G7/G8 and G20, and also at the UN General Assembly; (2) it is proposing to support low-carbon and climate-resilient development through the EU's development cooperation policy; and (3) it is proposing to link climate change and its potential long-term consequences, including security challenges. (AN)