Brussels, 30/06/2015 (Agence Europe) - The EU and China, which is the largest emitter in the world of greenhouse gases, are determined to work more closely together to fight climate change. This increase in bilateral cooperation to meet this global challenge is among the progress achieved by the 17th bilateral EU/China summit, which was held in Brussels on Monday 29 June. It was a highly successful summit, in the view of the participants, as it allowed both sides to reiterate their willingness to work together to aim for “an ambitious and legally binding agreement at the climate conference in Paris in December” (COP 21, 30 November - 11 December).
The EU's initial hopes that this bilateral summit would coincide with the official submission of China's contribution offer (INDC, a UN term standing for “Intended Nationally Determined Contribution”) were dashed, but not for long. Prime Minister Li announced that in addition to the joint US/China declaration of November of last year, in which China undertook to ensure that its emissions peak in 2030 or earlier, China would be submitting this offer before the end of the month. This promise was kept. The next day, Tuesday 30 June, when Prime Minister Li was on an official visit to Paris, China made its formal offer to the UN: a reduction of carbon intensity in the order of 60% to 65% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels.
Towards low-carbon development. In the joint declaration on the climate, the two parties recognise the critical role they have to play in the fight against climate change, “one of the greatest threats facing humanity”. They undertake to move towards development based on low carbon emissions and to work together for a cost-effective low-carbon economy. They also stressed the importance of low-carbon investments, in order to move away from unsustainable development models.
The EU and China stress that the Paris agreement must be fair, applicable to all and include attenuation, adaptation, financing, development and technological transfer, capacity development, transparency of action and support measures. They also stressed the need to ensure a steady increase in the level of ambition under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
They urge the industrialised countries to make more money available to keep their promise of allocating €100 billion a year in aid to the developing countries to support the attenuation and adaptation efforts of these countries.
Speaking to the press, Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, explained that the talks had focused on “how to promote low-carbon and climate-friendly investments, at bilateral level and internationally”. He added: “We have agreed on the need to aim for a fair and ambitious agreement at December's climate conference in Paris. One of our shared objectives must be to keep the increase in temperatures below 2°C compared to preindustrial levels”.
The Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang added: “This year is critical for global climate change governance. Together, we have signed a joint declaration on the climate. We are willing to work together with the EU to jointly tackle the challenges posed by climate change, observe the principles of common but differentiated responsibilities, equity and respective capabilities to implement climate change solutions. We are willing and we will make strenuous efforts to tackle and address climate change. By the end of this month, the Chinese side will submit to the EU and the Secretariat of the UNFCCC our INDC”. And it has already done so.
In a press release, Miguel Arias Cañete, the European commissioner for climate action and energy, welcomed China's commitment to transform into a resource-efficient economy, resistant to climate change and low in carbon. “China and the EU are responsible for around a third of global greenhouse gas emissions. Add the United States, and we have around half of world emissions. Today's statement gives a strong signal that we are serious in the fight against climate change. We expect this to be reflected in an ambitious and binding global climate change agreement in Paris this December”.
The two sides have agreed to step up their political dialogue on the climate and their bilateral cooperation in a wide range of areas such as national attenuation policies, emissions quota trading systems, based on carbon pricing and emissions caps (such as the ETS), low-carbon cities, reducing emissions of greenhouse gases from aviation and the maritime sector, HFC. An EU/China partnership for low-carbon cities is to be launched. Cooperation on the carbon markets will be extended, as China is planning to bring in a national emissions quota trading system by 2020. (Aminata Niang)