The Copenhagen global climate conference represented a major international mobilisation. To secure this ‘momentum’ as the negotiations get set to resume, from 7 to 12 April in Bonn, the European Commission proposes, in a communication adopted on 9 March ⁽¹⁾, a strategy to relaunch the climate talks. It is based on implementing the Copenhagen Accord and keeping up pressure on the EU’s partners to obtain an ambitious and legally binding agreement. There will be three areas of action: implementing the Copenhagen Accord, delivering fast-start funding (aid for the developing countries) and preparing - for the June European Council – the data, conditions and measures needed to shift up to a 30% reduction of European emissions. In short, there is not much new in the strategy…

“This strategy should be used to surf on the wave of Copenhagen,” declared Climate Action Commissioner Connie Hedegaard, as she presented the strategy to the European Parliament. She called for pragmatism, noting that to prepare for 2050, it is first necessary to prepare for 2030. She also warned MEPs against any temptation to set the mark too high for Cancun: although the EU must show that it is equal to its ambitions, it also has to realise that it cannot force its views on the world. She stressed the necessity of establishing contacts and setting up coalitions with the key partners and confirmed that she would be in Washington, on 16 and 17 March, and then would visit the Maldives and China.

NO ILLUSIONS

For the Commission, which proposes a road map, the political guidance in the Copenhagen Accord “needs to be integrated into the UN negotiating texts” that contain the basis of the future agreement. The executive does not seem to be labouring under any illusions, however. Although it states that it is ready to reach a legally binding deal at the Cancun conference (29 November-10 December), it recognises that differences between the parties are such that an agreement may not be possible until end 2011 (17th conference of parties, South Africa). The EU is ready, but “the world might not be, and therefore our approach has to be stepwise”.

The Copenhagen Accord is a step towards a legally binding global agreement, which should take effect in 2013. It endorses the EU’s core objective of keeping global warming within 2°C above the pre-industrial temperature. The commitments announced in this context by the industrialised and the developing countries cover 80% of global emissions, which the Commission sees as evidence of the determination of a majority of nations to act against climate change. It is therefore imperative to apply it. The Commission nonetheless insists that the Kyoto Protocol must “remain the central building block of the UN process”. Its identified weaknesses need to be corrected: if rules for including forestry emissions and the handling of surplus national emission rights from the 2008-2012 period are not clarified, this could reduce industrialised countries’ commitments to almost zero.

EU MUST TAKE LEAD

The Commission notes that the Union can and must show leadership but can only do so by taking tangible action to become the most ‘climate friendly’ region of the world, as proposed in the ‘Europe 2020’ strategy. The first step is swift delivery of the fast-start funding promised to the developing countries (€2.4 billion over three years – 2010-2012). Three months on from the Copenhagen decision, there has been no action.

The Union must then be ready to shift up to a 30% emissions reduction. The Commission reiterates that the EU agreed to a 20% reduction by 2020 from 1990 levels and a 30% cut if other major economies make a comparable effort. It agrees to present to the June European Council an analysis of the policies needed to switch to the 30% reduction. The Union must also continue its efforts to put in place a global carbon market, the only capable of driving investments for the development of a low-carbon economy and effectively reducing emissions. Third, and last but not least, the EU must bolster its outreach to its partners in order to build confidence, without which an agreement cannot be sealed.

“This strategy should be used to surf on the wave of Copenhagen,” declared Climate Action Commissioner Connie Hedegaard  
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