Brussels, 17/09/2015 (Agence Europe) - EU28 Environment Ministers are meeting up on Friday 18 September in Brussels to give the finishing touches to the EU's negotiating brief for the UN conference on climate change (COP 21, Paris, 30 November -11 December).
This special Environment Council session, which will be chaired by the Luxembourg Minister for the Environment, Carole Dieschbourg, will exclusively focus on this task. Miguel Arias Cañete, the European commissioner for climate action and energy, will represent the European Commission.
The EU's Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) for the COP 21, sent to the UN in March, has been known about for a long time: a reduction of at least 40% of its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. A legally binding dynamic global agreement, together with a mechanism that allows for revision, transparency and the verification of the commitments made, to be concluded in Paris and to enter into force in 2020.
The Council's draft conclusions reflect these expectations. In addition to the EU's commitment to reduce levels, the text reflects its own vision of the agreement, the aims and substance of the agreement for an ambitious result. The ministers, however, still need to develop the appropriate formulation for the still controversial long-term objective, even though, as a whole, the unanimous adoption of the conclusions is not expected to create any problems.
The long-term objective is creating the most difficulties. The EU has stated its determination to reach an ambitious, universal and legally binding agreement and the need for the international community to set out a long-term objective and assert a carbon neutral goal by 2100. The draft conclusions on the table mentions a 60% reduction in emissions by 2050 as proposed by the European Commission. Poland, however, does not support this goal and prefers a band of between 40% to 70% by 2050, as advocated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). On Thursday, one diplomatic source informed the press that “there will in any case be something on the 2100 horizon. For 2050, it will be up to the ministers to decide”.
The EU will assert the need to develop a mechanism for regulating transparency commitments and revision every five years, in order to respect the aim to keep global warming to below 2°C. It will show that it is offering a hand to countries in the developing world, particularly the poorest and most vulnerable by establishing a link between guaranteeing a balance between mitigation and adaptation.
Whilst waiting for the Finance Ministers to adopt their formal position on 10 November (after the Ecofin Council on 6 October, the G20 Finance Ministers' meeting and the Lima meeting on 9-11 October in a backdrop to the autumn IMF and World Bank meetings - see EUROPE 11388) the conclusions are expected to point out that the financing of $100 billion a year by 2020 in support of efforts made by developing countries, will be a key factor in reaching an agreement.
During dinner, ministers will assess progress in the negotiations and continue with the updating of a communication policy before and during the Paris conference.
So far, 62 countries have submitted their respective INDC to the UN (see EUROPE 11390). On Thursday, a senior EU official affirmed that “all member states believe that Paris will be successful if there is a significant critical mass of countries that are committed. The conclusions will not overtly mention the countries that have to make a commitment but for us, the objective is a genuinely global agreement involving all significant emissions emitting countries. The wording for this still needs to be defined”. With 80 days to go until the COP 21, some big emerging economies have still not submitted their INDC yet - Turkey, India, Brazil, Argentina and South Africa. Our expert quoted above added that “there is still room for further climate diplomacy. The EU is working on this”. (Aminata Niang)