Less than a month ahead of COP 23 in Bonn on 6-17 November, Europe’s environment ministers hoped in Brussels on Friday 13 October that the European Union would lead global efforts to tackle climate change but added that the participation and contribution of each country was essential for fighting the threat of climate change and achieving the Paris Climate Agreement’s long-term objectives.
The Council’s conclusions document sets out the EU’s position for the conference, which will be chaired by Fiji. It notes the crucial importance of global rules for multilateralism focussed on the UN for a peaceful, sustainable world.
The document says that the universal agreement, which came into force in November 2016 and has been ratified by 166 parties, including the EU and all its member states, is irreversible and its integrity and full application will be determining factors for security and prosperity across the entire planet.
The Council confirmed the EU’s pledge to fully implement the Paris Climate agreement, cooperate with all parties for its implementation, strengthen existing partnerships and seek new alliances. It calls on all parties that have not yet done so to ratify the universal agreement and maintain the momentum to ensure the success of COP23 and future COPs.
Ahead of COP 23, the Council urges all countries to prepare implementation of their own contribution as decided nationally (NDC) and their adaptation strategies. They note the crucial importance of G20 nations’ efforts since these countries together account for around 80% of global emissions. The Council confirms the pledge by the EU and its member states to help developing countries implant their own NDC by providing technical assistance.
The Council repeats the EU and its member states’ commitment to play its part in the collective mobilisation by developed countries of $USD 100 billion a year by 2020 to help developing countries reduce and adapt to climate change, saying the EU will make this annual commitment until 2025, a promise made recently by EU finance ministers.
The document notes the importance of drawing up long-term greenhouse gas emissions reduction strategies to achieve the Paris Climate Agreement’s objectives. COP 23 should generate enough clarity on how the facilitating dialogue will occur in 2018 that will increase commitments. The EU is awaiting a report in this regard, from the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on the implications of the more ambitions objective set in the Paris Climate Agreement – limiting the average increase in world temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius. More generally, the EU expects COP23 to make progress in preparing implementation details for all the Paris Climate Agreement measures.
The EU looks like it will achieve its 2020 reduction target (down 20% on 1990) and states that it and its member states are prepared to meet their obligations for the second commitment period of the Kyoto agreement, explains the Council’s conclusions document. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)