Environment

Climate

Greenhouse gas emissions affect the climate regardless of where on Earth they occur, and no country can solve the problem of climate change on its own. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) forms the basis for international climate cooperation. The associated Kyoto Protocol contains commitments for emission reductions up to 2012. Decisions are to be taken on a new global climate agreement to take effect after 2012 at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen from 7-18 December 2009. EU Member States have agreed on an ambitious climate policy with regard to their own reductions in carbon dioxide emissions. The common climate and energy policy lays the foundation for the EU to drive the international climate negotiations forward.

A united EU and successful coordination are essential in order to continue to be proactive in the negotiations. Sweden’s principal task in holding the Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers is to lead the Union so that it can facilitate an agreement on a global climate agreement being reached in Copenhagen. The meeting in Copenhagen and the negotiations ahead of this meeting will be a key task for the Swedish Presidency.

EU requirements for a new climate agreement

 The goal for the EU is to reach a decision, together with the other parties, on a global climate agreement that can come into effect in 2013. The EU wishes the future agreement to:

• Cover all the world's countries.
• Ensure that the EU’s ‘two-degree target’ is within reach.
• Apportion responsibility for emission reductions among the world’s countries and do so fairly. The industrialised part of the world must take the lead and should reduce its emissions by 25-40 per cent by 2020 and 80-95 per cent by 2050.
• Contain requirements for developing countries to devise strategies for lower emissions, with support provided to the poorest. Developing countries should also be given support and the necessary conditions to enable them to increase their efforts to limit emissions.
• Improve the ability of countries to cope with and adapt to the effects of climate change, including financial support, particularly for the least developed countries.
• Promote sustainable development and increased technological cooperation.

EU climate target

The overarching goal of EU climate policy is what is known as the two-degree target. To avoid dangerous climate change, average global temperature cannot increase by more than two degrees Celsius compared with pre-industrial levels.

To contribute to reaching this target and provide a firm basis for EU action in the international negotiations, the EU has decided that it will decrease its greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent by 2020, under an international agreement in which other industrialised countries make comparable commitments. Regardless of international agreement, the EU has agreed on a 20 per cent reduction in emissions  by 2020. In addition, 20 per cent of EU ´s energy  is to come from renewable sources, and a target of a 20 per cent increase in energy efficiency will to be achieved by 2020.

Europe´s public and private sectors are jointly responsible for meeting the EU’s climate targets. The distribution and responsibility are specified in the climate and energy package adopted in December 2008.
 

Key issues in the negotiations

A number of key issues must be resolved ro reach a new global climate agreement is to be possible:

Reduction in emissions
The negotiations are concerned with reaching agreement on a global, long-term target for reducing emissions. They are also concerned with how emission reductions are to be shared between countries. The industrialised countries are to make legally binding commitments on emission reductions. Developing countries should undertake to contribute measures that limit emissions. This applies in particular to the rapidly growing economies.

Financing of measures for adaptation
One of key issues in the climate negotiations is how the adaptation to a changed climate is to be financed. This relates to improving the ability of countries to cope for example with rising sea levels, floods, drought, severe storms etc. Measures for adaptation to a changed climate are a high-priority issue for many developing countries. A system for financing adaptation must be created under the international climate agreement.

Financing of measures concerned with technology
Technological development plays a key role in reducing emissions as well as in adaptation to climate change. The international process is focused on both research and development, but also on methods for the diffusion of existing technology in the areas of renewable energy, energy efficiency and technology for the capture and storage of carbon dioxide. The issue of access to new and climate-adapted technology is very important to developing countries in enabling them to combine growth with reduced emissions

Emissions markets
Economic tools such as a carbon dioxide tax or market instruments such as emissions trading are key elements in the switch to a low carbon society. They can also contribute to mobilising financial resources that are necessary to achieve the required reductions in emissions.

Measures for reduced deforestation
Deforestation accounts for around 20 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions. The negotiations are therefore concerned with measures to reduce deforestation and restore forest that has already been cleared.
 

The negotiations up to an agreement

The international climate negotiations take place under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The EU acts jointly for the Member States under the UNFCCC negotiations. Coordination takes through the EU discussing the issue in Council working groups and formulating and presenting various negotiating positions with the aim of driving the negotiations forward.

Other meetings and processes are also significant. These include, high-level meetings at the UN, the  Major Economies Forum (MEF) and the G8 meeting. Bilateral meetings with other parties are also  important for discussion of outstanding issues. The results of these political forums contribute to the UN process with a view to a new global climate agreement.

Other issues linked to the climate negotiations

The EU’s Environment Council has collective responsibility for the issue of climate change. The issue of climate change is also discussed at an overarching level by the European Council.

During the Swedish Presidency, Sweden will highlight the opportunities for the EU to switch to an eco-efficient economy. It is important to view the economic crisis and the challenge of climate change as an opportunity by which environmental technology, renewable energy, energy efficiency and sustainable urban development can contribute to lower emissions and higher growth.

There is also a clear link between measures to reduce the loss of biodiversity and impact on climate. Rich biodiversity is important to enable land and biomass to bind more carbon dioxide. Even from a climate perspective it is therefore important to curb the loss of biodiversity. The EU is a driving force for increased synergies between the conventions on biodiversity and work on climate change.