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Conference of European Churches
EU on the way to the UN climate change
conference in Paris
Peter Pavlovic
Conference of European Churches
European Christian Environmental Network
www.ceceurope.org
Why Paris conference matters
Facts:

Unprecedented level of emissions
the atmospheric concentrations of carbon
dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide
have increased to levels
unprecedented in at least the last
800,000 years

Anthropogenic character
human influence on the climate system is
clear

Changing of our living space for a long
period ahead
A large fraction of anthropogenic climate
change resulting from CO2 emissions
is irreversible;
about 15 to 40% of emitted CO2 will
remain in the atmosphere longer
than 1,000 years
Source: IPCC Report 2014
EU contributing to global efforts
• The EU accounts for 9% of global emissions
and this proportion is falling. The world's two
largest emitters - China (25% of global
emissions) and the US (11%)
EU climate & energy policy
• EU 2020 targets:
– 20% GHG emission reduction
– 20% share of renewable
– 20% energy saving
• Achieved results:
– EU emissions declined by 19% between 1990 and 2013, while
over the same period EU GDP grew by 45%
• EU 2030 targets - The EU's 2030 climate and energy framework,
agreed by EU leaders in October 2014
– a binding, economy-wide reduction target, covering all sectors
and all sources of emissions, including agriculture, forestry and
other land uses, of at least 40% domestic reductions in
emissions by 2030 compared to 1990.
– Long terms vision - 80% - 95% domestic reductions by 2050
European Parliament
• Calls for general reinvigoration of the EU's climate policy in
line with upper limit of the EU's commitment to reduce its
GHG emissions to 95% below 1990 levels by 2050;
– a binding EU 2030 50% reduction target for GHG emissions – it
is both realistic and affordable;
– a binding EU 2030 energy efficiency target of 40 %, in line with
research on cost-effective energy saving potential
– a binding EU 2030 target of producing at least 45 % of total final
energy consumption from renewable energy sources;
• Calls for concrete commitments to deliver additional
sources of climate finance, such as
– the adoption of a financial transactions tax and the allocation of
emissions trading revenues to climate-related investments,
– a timetable for the phase out of fossil fuel subsidies etc.
– green investment funds, green bonds etc
EU - a vision of Paris agreement
• a transparent and dynamic legally binding agreement,
containing fair and ambitious commitments from all Parties
based on evolving global economic and geopolitical
circumstances. A call for a strong agreement.
• the 2015 Agreement should be in the form of a Protocol
under the UNFCCC. Major economies, in particular the EU,
China and the US, should show political leadership by joining
the Protocol
• all countries need to contribute
• a robust monitoring and accountability framework for
effective follow-up of the implementation of climate finance
commitments and objectives;
• new and additional finance in line with existing commitments,
towards achieving the agreed amount of USD 100 billion a
year by 2020;
Churches addressing the EU
• Dialogue with politics and its forms:
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Addressing the EU Presidency
The letter to EU leaders
Contribution to EU public consultations
Churches in addressing governments in their countries
Ecumenical event on Climate justice in the European Parliament on
29th September
• What do we say:
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–
–
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Be more ambitious
Fairness & justice – victims of climate change
Fossil fuels
Climate change, economy & lifestyle - climate change is a result of a
dysfunctional mindset that demands ever increasing consumption in
our households and individual lives
– Engagement of public, education
– Ethics, the role of churches & faith communities
The Paris Narrative
The Paris agreement to become a turning point
for a transformational shift toward low / zero
carbon development (limiting global warming well
below 2°C degrees), and improving climate
resilience based on equity
What is going to happen after Paris conference?
• Addressing the real challenges and transforming them into
opportunities
• Using opportunities for a political dialogue and advocacy
• Work of churches in grassroots communities
• Theology of creation