Photo: WikimediaThe European Union has announced its position and state of play in the climate deal negotiations for the upcoming Copenhagen conference. The EU aims to press for a climate treaty that would prevent global warming from reaching dangerous levels by keeping the average temperature rise at 20C.In a recent press release stating the union's position, EU has emphasised upon the need to cut global emission by 50 per cent by 2020. That includes a 25-50 per cent emission cut by the developed world and a 15-30 per cent cut by the developing world.
Among the action plan the release mentions that the EU "is implementing the climate and energy package as well as a programme of energy efficiency measures to achieve this. Moreover, it has committed to scale up its emission cut to 30 per cent on condition that other industrialised countries agree to make comparable reductions and developing countries contribute adequately to a global deal."
The union also finds serious shortcoming with the low emission cut target set by the industrialised countries and holds that this needs to be changed.
The European Council has also called for contribution from the member states towards the estimated amount of Euro 22-50 billion for supporting the developing countries. This is a commendable move by the EU which should be followed by other bodies in the industrialised world if emission targets are to be met.
Further, the EU has also announced its commitment towards providing its share towards the 'fast share' financing required to help the developing countries meet the challenges of climate change. "The European Commission estimates a global total of Euro 5-7 billion could be needed annually over the three years following an ambitious global agreement."
The EU maintains that much work is still needed to reach upon a fully fledged treaty in Copenhagen. In the event of failure to reach this goal the Union hopes that "the minimum outcome in Copenhagen must be a strong framework agreement covering the essential building blocks of the new treaty and a deadline for completing it."
Among the essential elements of such a framework are "an ambitious set of emission reduction commitments by developed countries including the United States; adequate action by developing countries to curb their emissions growth," states EU.
The release stresses upon a two-track approach that the EU takes towards a legally binding international treaty. "This must incorporate and build on the essential elements of the Kyoto Protocol, such as emission reductions by industrialised countries, market-based mechanisms, accounting rules for changes in emissions due to land use, land use change and forestry, and a strong compliance regime."
The EU also promises to comply with the obligations of the Kyoto Protocol regardless of the outcome of the Copenhagen conference.
The European Union has indeed taken a crucial step towards a global climate deal. Yet, the recent release also brings to light the road yet not travelled towards reaching that dream deal. With just under a month to go for the historic conference, sealing the deal seems still distant.
