Brussels, 04/02/2015 (Agence Europe) - Miguel Arias Cañete, the commissioner for climate action and energy, is counting on trans-Atlantic cooperation as a means of reaching a deal in Paris next December (COP 21) on a global climate agreement that is legally binding. He expressed these views on Wednesday 4 February at the Atlantic Council in Washington, during his visit to the US for high-level talks on energy (1-3 February).
Moving ahead, somewhat, he referred to the EU 2030 goals (at least a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, a minimum of 27% renewable energies and at least 27% in energy efficiency) as “binding objectives” and pointed to the convergence of views with the US head of negotiations. He explained: “I have met this week with my friend Tod Stern. We share many ideas on how to reach a global deal in Paris in December. A legally binding climate deal would be the greatest single act of sending long-term clarity to the markets. And we will only get there if the US and EU are on the same page”. (AN)