UN Climate Conference in Durban
(28 November - 9 December 2011)

Representatives from all over the world are meeting in Durban, South-Africa, for international climate talks at the United Nations conference. While it is already clear that this conference will not produce the legally binding global climate agreement that the world badly needs, it can and must take a big step closer to that goal.

EU open to a second Kyoto period as bridge to a wider climate regime

For the EU the main outcome from Durban must be an agreed roadmap and deadline for finalising an ambitious, comprehensive and legally binding global framework for climate action by all major economies.

A key decision is what should follow the "first commitment period" of the Kyoto protocol. At the end of 2012, the emission targets of developed countries (except the US which has not ratified the protocol) will expire. The EU is open to engage in a second Kyoto period as a bridge to the wider international climate regime provided the environmental integrity of the Protocol and its market-mechanisms are strengthened.

"The EU can build the bridge to the future. But that only makes sense if the remaining countries are willing to commit in the near future too", stressed Connie Hedegaard.

Durban "important to continue progress but not the end of the road"

In Durban, the EU will report on its good progress in delivering on the €7.2 billion in "fast start" climate finance it has pledged to developing countries for the years 2010-2012. Two thirds of the money has been mobilised.

Another critical point for Durban will be to make operational the decisions taken last year in Cancún, Mexico, such as the launch of the Green Climate Fund and procedures to increase transparency on the climate measures undertaken by all countries.

Finally, the Durban conference must also tackle the ambition gap of the current global climate regime. The emissions reduction pledges made by some 90 countries since Cancún are not sufficient to keep global warming below 2°C. And aviation, maritime and agriculture must be included.

So "Durban will be an important opportunity to continue progress but not the end of the road", Connie Hedegaard added.

Useful links:

• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
• Working with International Partners
• International climate finance

Connie Hedegaard on Durban

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