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The EU and the international
negotiations on climate change
May 2008
Dr. Nicola Notaro, Policy Coordinator, European Commission, DG Environment, Unit C1 Climate
Strategy, International Negotiation & Monitoring of EU Action
European Commission: Environment Directorate General Slide: 1
EC Treaty Article 174.1: Objectives
Preserving, protecting, improving the
environment
 Protecting human health
 Prudent and rational utilisation of natural
resources
 Promoting measures at international level
to deal with regional/global problems
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European Commission: Environment Directorate General Slide: 2
EC Treaty Article 174.2: Principles
High level of protection
 Precaution
 Prevention
 Rectification at source
 Polluter-pays
 Integration in Article 6!
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European Commission: Environment Directorate General Slide: 3
EU leadership on world stage
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Cradle of industrialisation, source of both
problems and solutions
Strong belief in multilateral process
“EU model” attracts wide range of countries
Community competence based on the Treaty.
Both the EC and the MS become Parties to
international treaties (shared competence)
European Commission: Environment Directorate General Slide: 4
International context

EC is Party to more than 40 international
conventions such as
UNFCCC (climate change including Kyoto Protocol)
Convention on Biological Diversity (including
Cartagena Protocol on GMOs)
Aarhus Convention on access to information
 Stockholm Convention on POPs (chemicals)
European Commission: Environment Directorate General Slide: 5
International Climate Change
Policy

The UNFCCC:
 national
programmes and reports,
 industrialised countries to stabilise GHGs
emissions at 1990 levels by 2000, non binding
goal
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The Kyoto Protocol:
 overall
aggregate target 5,2% by 2008-2012,
 binding targets for industrialised countries,
 EU 15 ‘bubble’ at 8%; the other MS
European Commission: Environment Directorate General Slide: 6
Post 2012 -EU Building Blocks (Spring
Council 2007)
. A shared vision : 2°C, 50 % global emissions reductions by 2050
compared to 1990; 20% by 2020 or 30% if not alone
. Developed countries to commit to further significant cuts
. Developing countries to enhance their contributions
. Strenghtening the global carbon market
. Adaptation Framework
. Technologies deployement, development, transfer
. Deforestation
. Emissions from maritime and aviation international transport
. Mobilising finance and investments for climate change
European Commission: Environment Directorate General Slide: 7
Bali Action Plan
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Start of negotiations on a global and
comprehensive agreement for post 2012
 “two
track approach” with two separate Ad-hoc
Working Groups – to end by 2009

A shared vision?
Explicit only in Kyoto track (Annex I Parties’ indicative collective
emission reduction range of 25 – 40 % by 2020 )
Convention track does not explicitly identify a level of
ambition (resistance of US, Japan and Russia)
European Commission: Environment Directorate General Slide: 8
Bali is a breakthrough
first time,
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that US engage in negotiations and subscribes to
a decision with an explicit reference to emission
reduction commitments
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that explicit reference is made to the need for
developing countries to take action
European Commission: Environment Directorate General Slide: 9
The mandate I
Reference to shared vision
 Mitigation:
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Further commitments or actions by developed countries
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Mitigation actions/contributions by developing countries
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Action to address deforestation and forest degradation in
developing countries,
Sectoral approaches and sector specific actions,
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Use of markets, as part of a range of approaches for cost
effective mitigation
European Commission: Environment Directorate General Slide: 10
The mandate II
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Adaptation:
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Technology:
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Actions at national and international level,
Risk reduction, risk management strategies
Economic diversification
Deployment, diffusion and transfer, R&D cooperation, transfer
of environmentally sound technologies to developing countries
Finance:
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Adequate and predictable financing for developing countries,
Positive incentives for mitigation and adaptation,
Funding for adaptation in vulnerable countries and
Capacity building and mobilisation of public and private
finance.
European Commission: Environment Directorate General Slide: 11
What is next? (I)
Bali is just the start!
 Intensification of the negotiating process
in the next 2 years with stock taking in
Poznan first
 4 meetings/negotiating sessions per year at
least.
 Bangkok, last April, agreement on a work
programme
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European Commission: Environment Directorate General Slide: 12
What is next? (II)
Bonn in June: focus on adaptation,
technology transfer and financing)
 Use of outside processes to support the
negotiations: G8, MEM, UN summits...
 Intensification of contacts/dialogue with
key third country partners.
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European Commission: Environment Directorate General Slide: 13
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European Commission: Environment Directorate General Slide: 14
More info on:
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http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/ho
me_en.htm
Thank you !
European Commission: Environment Directorate General Slide: 15