A post-2012 global climate regime: the EU's contribution
International negotiations are under way to draw up a United Nations climate change agreement for the period after 2012, when the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol expires.
The European Union has long been in the vanguard of international action to combat climate change. For the EU, the international negotiations must result in a legally binding global treaty that is comprehensive, ambitious, fair and science-based.
The treaty should aim to keep global warming below 2°C above the pre-industrial temperature, or around 1.2°C above today's level (see brochure). The treaty should cover all elements of the 2007 Bali Action Plan, which set the agenda and scope of the international negotiations.
Scientific evidence shows that to keep within the 2°C ceiling, global emissions of greenhouse gases will have to peak by 2020 at the latest, be cut by at least 50% of their 1990 levels by 2050, and continue to decline thereafter.
These objectives can be achieved only through a worldwide effort involving developed and developing countries alike.
Industrialised nations must take the lead by making deep emission cuts of 25-40% below 1990 levels by 2020 and of 80-95% by 2050.
Action by developing nations (except the least developed countries) will also be needed to limit the rapid growth in their emissions. In particular the more economically advanced developing countries should pledge ambitious, quantified mitigation actions.
Overall, developing country pledges need to amount to a substantial deviation - in the order of 15-30% - below the currently predicted growth rate in their collective emissions by 2020. The EU is ready to provide its fair share of financial assistance to help developing countries mitigate their emissions and adapt to climate change.
The EU considers the Copenhagen Accord, negotiated at the UN climate conference in Copenhagen in December 2009, as a first step towards a legally binding global climate agreement. The EU has formally notified its willingness to be associated with the Accord and submitted its emission reduction targets. The EU's goal is to reach a legally binding global agreement at the earliest opportunity.
The EU's position on post-2012 global action is set out in two sets of 'conclusions' representing the views of the Council of EU Environment Ministers and of the European Council (which brings together the EU Heads of State and Government).
The EU position has been shaped by a series of policy papers ("Communications") from the European Commission. These papers have also served to stimulate international debate. The Communications are presented here.
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