Brussels, 11/09/2015 (Agence Europe) - The world must face up to “the urgent collective action we must take” to avoid irreversible climate change and the small island states, which are the most vulnerable to climate disruption, can count on the EU to give its all for “an ambitious agreement capable of limiting global warming to below 1.5 or 2 degrees” in Paris in December.
In giving this pledge, European Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Canete sought to reassure the EU's Pacific partners, meeting in the 46th Pacific Islands Forum Plenary Session, which ended in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on Friday 11 September (see EUROPE 11383). He also put faith in the partnership between the EU and these states to deliver success at COP 21 (30 November-11 December) that meets the expectations of the Alliance of Small Island States of the region, some of which are under threat of being submerged by the rising seas.
Loss and damage: a priority. “The focus of the Paris Agreement must be about mitigation. However, and let me assure you, that for the EU, adaptation and loss and damage needs to be treated with the same priority and urgency as mitigation”, Canete declared. “Today, we are less than 3 months away from the crucial Paris conference. Joining forces is more important than ever”, he said. The countdown to COP 21 was formally begun on Thursday 10 September at the residence of the French President, the Elysée Palace, and a special green carpet was rolled out for the occasion.
Currently, 59 countries cumulatively producing 61% of global emissions have submitted their intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs) to the United Nations. The commissioner warmly hailed “the leadership shown by the Republic of the Marshall Islands in becoming the first small island state from the Pacific to submit its INDC”. He called on all the countries of the region to follow its example.
The EU is providing technical assistance to the Alliance of Small Island States and is assisting Samoa, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu (three ACP countries) prepare their INDCs. “Before we meet in Paris, we must have a clear idea of the adequacy of our collective effort against our below 1.5 or 2 degrees objective so that we will be able to respond swiftly and adequately”, Canete said. It is for this very reason that Morocco and the European Commission will co-host a forum in Rabat to look at the aggregate level of ambition of the INDCs.
Setting out what he expected of COP 21 “to shape the global response to climate change”, the commissioner highlighted: - an international legally binding agreement applicable to all; - reaffirmation of the target of limiting the global temperature rise to below 1.5 or 2 degrees Celsius; - a global greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of at least 60% compared with 2010 levels and zero emissions, or nearly, by 2100; - a five-year review clause for the agreement; - increased collaboration before 2020; - robust international rules on transparency and accountability with regard to the INDCs.
There will be no agreement without climate financing and the commissioner pointed out that the EU is the largest donor, contributing €9.5 billion to the Green Climate Fund in 2013 to support developing countries in their mitigation and adaptation efforts.
EU finance ministers, at their informal meeting in Luxembourg on Friday 11 and Saturday 12, are to discuss how to honour the promise made by the EU and the developed countries to provide US$100 billion per year from 2020 (see EUROPE 11386). The Environment Council will adopt the EU position for COP 21 on 18 September and the Economic and Financial Council will formalise its contribution in conclusions on 10 November. (Aminata Niang)