Brussels, 20/01/2016 (Agence Europe) - France's Foreign Affairs Minister and COP21 president Laurent Fabius told the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday 20 January that the Paris Agreement, which is “recognised as ambitious”, constituted hope at the end of a difficult 2015, proof that “diplomacy and multilateralism can achieve important results”, and major progress which promotes “peace-building for current and future generations”.
Fabius had been invited by European Parliament President Martin Schulz to review the COP 21 climate conference and to speak about the EU's role in implementing the Paris Agreement in 2016 - as had been European Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Canete on 15 December 2015, a few days after the agreement was concluded (see EUROPE 11455 and 11452).
In Fabius's view, the agreement fulfils “all the criteria for success” that he had spoken of in October. As well as its binding nature, the agreement is dynamic, contains a five-yearly review mechanism (the first review will be made in 2023, but an initial meeting has been set for 2018 in order to assess progress in reaching the 2020 objectives), a common transparency framework with flexibility, and differentiation covering all subjects. Nevertheless, “much remains to be done in applying it. 2016 must be the year of the four Ps”, Fabius said. By this he means: (1) the Process of signing and ratification (by 55 countries accounting for 55% of global emissions). With the Paris Agreement being open for signature in New York on 22 April, Fabius asked the EU to set an example by being the first to sign on 22 April; (2) the Precision to be brought to the modalities for implementing the agreement. The UN meetings in Bonn in May will enable the initial decisions to be prepared on the climate financing, the five-yearly review and the rules for monitoring transparency; (3) the pre-2020 Period in which the financial support of rich countries must be stepped up in order to reach the $100 million per year, before setting a new objective by 2025; (4) the Preparation for COP 22 in the same spirit of partnership.
Fabius, who will remain COP president until COP 22 in Marrakesh in December 2016, thanked the European Parliament warmly, as he did the former president of the Council, Luxembourg's Environment Minister Carole Dieschbourg, and Canete (who was also at the European Parliament chamber in Strasbourg) for the important role they had played in the success of COP 21. Almost all the political groups consider the results of COP 21 a success, although they all regretted that international air and maritime transport are not part of the agreement. Fabius asked the EU “to promote compromise well ahead” of the ICAO meeting in September 2016 which is due to conclude an agreement for stabilising emissions after 2020.
Thanks was fast returned to Fabius for how French diplomacy had conducted the negotiations “with skill”, in the words of Peter Liese (EPP, Germany). Everyone believed that 2016 would be the year of action for implementing the first universal climate agreement that was “as legally binding as it could be, given the legal constraints of some countries”, as Fabius said.
On behalf of the EPP Group, Liese nevertheless said he was “sceptical about the 1.5 degrees objective”, calling for certainty first of all that 2 degrees could be reached. Deploring the fact that the ICAO and IMO had “not heard our call”, Liese stated that while the ICAO was not ready for a reduction in air transport emissions, the EU legislation will have to apply (the ETS). Kathleen Van Brempt (S&D, Belgium) reiterated that international air and maritime transport emit as much as Germany and South Korea together and are expected to experience 270% growth by 2050. However, unlike her colleague, she thought the objective of “1.5 degrees is very important” and that the EU must, as a result, set “more ambitious objectives for 2030 and 2050”.
Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy (ALDE, Netherlands) was on the same lines. As “it's important to come close to the 1.5 degrees”, he wondered if the European policies were enough, if the carbon leakage would still be topical, given that other countries would act. Believing that this agreement sends “the clear signal that the world is making irreversible progress towards a low carbon economy, and that low carbon will be more competitive than carbon”, the fact that “Europe is beginning to be behind in investment”, is of concern to him. For Ian Duncan (ECR, UK), COP 21 achieved a sacred result “especially with the 1.5 degrees” and “decarbonisation” (Ed: which nevertheless does not feature in the agreement). Marco Affronte (EFDD, Italy) noted that decarbonisation is no longer spoken about, in favour of ambiguous wording on the balance between anthropogenic emissions and carbon sinks, “based on experimental techniques”. He also regretted that the EU is betting on the ETS “which may not work as it has not stimulated investment”.
Stressing the road ahead and the need for the EU “to depart from the fossil fuel route, to be more energy efficient”, Anne-Marie Mineur (GUE/NGL, Netherlands) regretted that the Dutch Presidency has thus far been little forthcoming on the implementation of the Paris Agreement. “COP 21 obliges us to leave fossil fuels behind”, said Yannick Jadot (Greens/EFA, France). With 1.5 degrees being a weak constraint in the Paris Agreement, moving from 3 degrees to 1.5 degrees, depends, in his view, “on virtuous circles” and the need to review the EU objectives upwards. “Renewable energy is more competitive than gas, nuclear and oil. All regions in the world are making progress in investment in renewable energy - except Europe”, he said, calling on France to take the initiative in organising an international conference on the disinvestment before the Marrakesh COP 22.
“Climate migration results in a cooling for the EU”, said Olaf Stuger (ENF, Netherlands). “What is the real weight of all these commitments?” asked Zoltan Balczo (NI, Hungary), who wondered what would become of ratification of the Paris Agreement “if a Republican candidate” wins the US presidential elections. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)