The European Commission launches today a public consultation on the European Union's approach to a global climate change agreement up to and beyond 2012 when the current Kyoto Protocol targets will end. Stakeholders and the general public are invited to put forward their views on a number of critical issues, such as mid-term emission reduction targets for developed countries and emission reduction actions for developing countries, adaptation to climate change, technology cooperation and finance. The results of the survey will help shape the EU's position on the global post-2012 agreement.
Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said: "It was agreed in Bali last year that a new global climate change agreement should be adopted by the end of 2009. The ambitious agreement that needs to be reached in Copenhagen must bring together the world's nations to tackle this global challenge effectively. It is important that our contribution to this discussion is shaped by the knowledge and expertise of the different EU stakeholders."
The Commission launches today a public consultation on the approach the European Union should take on the global post-2012 climate change agreement. The consultation follows the Commission's Communication "Limiting Global Climate Change to 2 Celsius: The way ahead for 2020 and beyond". Stakeholders are being asked for their views on the different building blocks of the Bali Road Map. These include a shared vision guiding commitments to mid-term targets by developed countries and greater collaboration on emission reduction and adaptation to climate change with the support of technology and finance.
The Commission welcomes comments from all interested parties, including individual citizens, industry, trade unions and consumer representatives, interest groups, the NGO community and other organisations. A conference for stakeholders is planned for autumn this year.
The consultation runs until 29 September 2008. Interested stakeholders are invited to participate by filling in the online questionnaire at:
http://ec.europa.eu/yourvoice/ipm/forms/dispatch?form=climatepost2012
Background
The Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was a vital first step in addressing the serious threat of climate change. Under the Kyoto Protocol, the EU committed itself to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 8%, compared to 1990 levels between 2008 and 2012. In December 2007, at the UN conference on climate change in Bali, Indonesia, participating countries set out an action plan for an agreement on a post 2012 framework, to be completed by 2009 when the parties of the UNFCCC meet in Copenhagen.
More information about climate change is available at:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/home_en.htm
Bron : Europese Commissie