Meeting in Tallinn on 14 July, Europe’s environment and climate ministers called on the EU to encourage municipalities, regions, civil society and non-EU countries to demonstrate good will and press ahead with implementing the Paris Climate Agreement.
This was the main message expressed during the second day of their informal meeting, convened by Estonian environment minister Siim Kiisler, who chairs the Environment Council.
The talks focused on opportunities and challenges related to promotion of the Paris Climate Agreement objectives and the need to promote commitment to it by non-state players (see EUROPE 11827). There were useful contributions from eminent civil society representatives from Europe, America and Africa, all desiring to make progress. Laurence Tubiana, CEO of the European Climate Foundation, Charles O. Holliday, chairman of Royal Dutch Shell, and Seyni Nafo, chair of the group of African negotiators for international climate talks (who was Africa’s spokesman at COP 21) and Mali’s climate ambassador. The sharing of their experience and their vision of cooperation with civil society, the private sector and development countries were much appreciated.
Like the Estonian Presidency (which has turned the climate into a priority for its term of office), the EU28 ministers feel that intensifying cooperation with local players – cities and regions – and non-state players – civil society and the private sector – was both a necessity and a guarantee of effective climate action for implementing the Paris Climate Agreement now that the United States has announced its withdrawal. The ministers stressed the need for financing to facilitate the shift from fossil fuel to renewable energy.
This is an important contribution for drawing up the EU’s negotiating position for COP 23 in Bonn on 16-17 November (chaired by Fiji) said Siim Kiisler. The results of the informal talks will enable the Environment Council to publish formal conclusions by October.
Ahead of the informal ministerial meeting, the US president, Donald Trump, and the French president, Emmanuel Macron, confirmed their disagreements over the Paris Climate Deal at a joint press conference in Paris. Macron pointed out, however, the commitments that been made and hoped to continue discussions with the United States. Enigmatically, Donald Trump, didn’t rule out that ‘something could happen.’
Siim Kiisler said the Paris Climate Agreement would remain in force and Europe would remain the leader of the fight against climate change, but member states’ governments cannot make a success of it on their own. He said they had to cooperate closely with the private sector and civil society and also with partners from outside Europe.
The EU and its member states provided €17.6 billion in 2015 to support the adjustment and reduction efforts of developing countries. The minister said that the EU would continue to invest in international cooperation in the name of global solidarity. He said the EU was on the right side of history with its leading role and also because 40% of patents for renewables are held by European companies.
EU Climate Action and Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete said one had to pay attention to non-state players whose role would be absolutely crucial. Noting the announced withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement, which had galvanised the world’s commitment to action, he welcomed the fact that Jerry Brown, the governor of California, is planning to hold a summit in California in September 2018, of federal states, governments and non-state players on the Paris commitments.
The Commissioner called for the EU’s climate and energy rules, Horizon 2030, to be initialled as soon as possible and the Estonian Presidency will be working on this by October.
US civil society is getting involved. On behalf of civil society in the United States, Charles O’Holliday said the role of US cities and NGOs was important and they were more committed than ever. These will be the main players in the fight against climate change and they will be present at COP 23.
The representative of Royal Dutch Shell stressed the role of innovation and investment in clean energy and renewables and also in gas as a crucial intermediary stage on the road to zero emissions. He stressed the importance of technological cooperation at the service of electrified mobility.
Tubiana wants a European diplomatic network. Laurence Tubiana, who was France’s climate ambassador and negotiator throughout COP 21 before beginning a career in the NGO world, called for a network of European climate diplomats to be established that is capable of forming a coalition of players from the public and private spheres to give action a boost.
No misery in Africa. Ambassador Seyni Nafo, stressing the enormous potential of renewables in Africa, called for an avoidance of misery and instead for EU-Africa partnerships to be extended to non-EU partners such as China and India and for financial partnerships generating investment in clean energy.
On Friday, European regional and local authorities announced their desire to deploy at least 2,000 zero emission buses by 2019 and increase the share of clean buses to 25% by 2015 (from the current 10 to 12%) (see other article). (Original article in French by Aminata Niang)