UN conference on climate change: EU set to keep momentum in the global fight against climate change

The EU will step up efforts to combat climate change alongside its international partners at the annual UN climate change conference starting next Monday in Argentina. At the conference, which is taking place against the background of the recent ratification of the Kyoto Protocol by Russia, the EU will present its Emissions Trading System due to be launched on 1 January a concrete step for the implementation of the EU commitment under the Kyoto protocol in a cost-efficient manner. Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas will represent the European Commission at the conference, which will bring together ministers and other senior representatives from 189 countries. The ambitious agenda focuses on the successful implementation of Kyoto and its market-based mechanisms. Other important issues on the agenda are the support developing countries need to deal with the effects of climate change as well as a first discussion of future policies.

"The Conference gives the EU and its partners, in industrialised and developing countries, the opportunity to take stock and advance in the fight against one of the most serious environmental challenges the world is facing", said Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas. "The implementation of the Kyoto Protocol will be a very important first step, but more needs to be done. The Emissions Trading Scheme, which will take off in less than a month, shows that the EU is not shying away from its commitment to meet the Kyoto target. But it's clear that we can't succeed on our own - this is a global challenge that requires a global response."

Issues to resolve at COP10

The EU is committed to assisting developing countries in dealing with the effects of climate change. It therefore wishes to successfully conclude negotiations aimed at providing support to adaptation and mitigation policies in developing countries. Further, the EU would like to stimulate first informal discussions on a future international framework for fighting climate change since the emission reductions envisaged by the Kyoto Protocol extend only until 2012.

Another issue to which the EU is attaching importance is the smooth functioning of the Executive Board of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). CDM allows both governments and companies participating in EU emissions trading to carry out emission reduction projects in developing countries and count the achieved reductions toward their own reduction targets. This will result in the transfer of advanced technologies to developing countries and support them in achieving sustainable development.

The CDM Executive Board is asked to endorse such projects, monitor them and approve the amount of credits they generate. However, at the moment the Board is understaffed and underfinanced, which has considerably slowed down its work.

Background

Of the 189 UNFCCC Parties, 128 are also Parties to the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which envisages that the 34 industrialised countries among them reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by around 5% below 1990 levels until 2012. The EU-15's target is a reduction of 8%. In 2002, the reduction achieved stood at 2.9%. Russia's recent ratification will bring the Protocol into force on 16 February 2005, which means that its provisions will become binding and that non-compliance will result in sanctions. Global average temperature has increased by 0.8 Celsius between 1860 and 2000.

For further information about EU climate change policies, see: http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/environment/climat/home_en.htm
and about the conference, see:
http://unfccc.int/meetings/cop_10/items/2944.php

Bron : Persberichten Europese Commissie