Monday, October 19, 2009

European Union's Contributions and Documents to Shaping A Future Global Climate Change Regime at Copenhagen 2009 (Kyoto II Protocol)

I do not know if you can find the proposed Kyoto II Protocol treaty that will likely be signed at Copenhagen in December, 2009, but you can read through the below links to find the various European Union (EU) contributions and proposals for the Copenhagen meeting set for December 7-18, 2009.

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International negotiations are under way to draft a global agreement governing action against climate change in the period after 2012, when key provisions of the Kyoto Protocol will expire.

This agreement is due to be concluded at the UN climate change conference in Copenhagen in December 2009. Reaching a deal that is global, comprehensive and ambitious is a top priority for the EU, which has long been in the vanguard of international action to combat climate change.

The EU's objective is to prevent global warming from reaching dangerous levels of more than 2°C above the pre-industrial temperature, or around 1.2°C above today's level (see brochure). Scientific evidence shows that this requires global emissions of greenhouse gases to peak before 2020 and then be cut by at least 50% of their 1990 levels by 2050.

These objectives can be achieved only through a global effort. Industrialised nations must take the lead by making deep emission cuts, but action by developing nations (except the least developed countries) is also needed to limit the rapid growth in their emissions.

The European Commission has adopted a succession of policy papers ("Communications") as a basis for the EU to define its policy regarding the future global climate regime. These papers have also served to stimulate international debate.

The policy papers are presented below, starting with the most recent.

newCommunication 'Stepping up international climate finance: A European blueprint for the Copenhagen deal.'

This policy paper, adopted on 10 September 2009, presents a blueprint for scaling up international finance to help developing countries combat climate change. It recognises that the financing issue is central to prospects for reaching an ambitious agreement in Copenhagen.

Documents

Background

The Communication on finance complements and builds on the Communication 'Towards a comprehensive climate change agreement in Copenhagen' adopted in January 2009.

Communication: 'Towards a comprehensive climate change agreement in Copenhagen' (January 2009)

This policy paper sets out concrete proposals to achieve an ambitious and comprehensive global agreement in Copenhagen. It focuses on three key challenges:

  • Targets by developed countries and appropriate actions by developing countries;
  • The need to address the financing of actions by developing countries (both to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change);
  • The need to build an effective global carbon market.

Documents

Background

'Towards a comprehensive climate change agreement in Copenhagen' builds on two earlier Communications:

  • "Limiting Global Climate Change to 2° Celsius: The way ahead for 2020 and beyond" (January 2007) and
  • "Winning the Battle Against Global Climate Change" (February 2005).

Source: European Commission

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