nternational negotiations are under way to draft a global agreement governing action against climate change in the period after 2012, when key provisions of the Kyoto Protocol will expire. This agreement is due to be concluded at the UN climate change conference in Copenhagen in December 2009. Reaching a deal that is global, comprehensive and ambitious is a top priority for the EU, which has long been in the vanguard of international action to combat climate change.
The last UN negotiating session for a climate agreement, Bangkok, October 2009
Presentation on the resultsThe EU's objective is to prevent global warming from reaching dangerous levels of more than 2°C above the pre-industrial temperature, or around 1.2°C above today's level (see brochure). Scientific evidence shows that this requires global emissions of greenhouse gases to peak before 2020 and then be cut by at least 50% of their 1990 levels by 2050.
These objectives can be achieved only through a global effort. Industrialised nations must take the lead by making deep emission cuts, but action by developing nations (except the least developed countries) is also needed to limit the rapid growth in their emissions.
The European Commission has adopted a succession of policy papers ("Communications") as a basis for the EU to define its policy regarding the future global climate regime. These papers have also served to stimulate international debate.
The policy papers are presented below, starting with the most recent.
Communication 'Stepping up international climate finance: A European blueprint for the Copenhagen deal.'
This policy paper, adopted on 10 September 2009, presents a blueprint for scaling up international finance to help developing countries combat climate change. It recognises that the financing issue is central to prospects for reaching an ambitious agreement in Copenhagen.Documents
- Communication 'Stepping up international climate finance: A European blueprint for the Copenhagen deal'
- Staff Working Document accompanying the Communication
- Press release
- Questions and Answers on the Communication
- Introductory remarks by Commissioner Stavros Dimas
- Citizens' summary
The Communication on finance complements and builds on the Communication 'Towards a comprehensive climate change agreement in Copenhagen' adopted in January 2009.
Communication: 'Towards a comprehensive climate change agreement in Copenhagen' (January 2009)
This policy paper sets out concrete proposals to achieve an ambitious and comprehensive global agreement in Copenhagen. It focuses on three key challenges:- Targets by developed countries and appropriate actions by developing countries;
- The need to address the financing of actions by developing countries (both to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change);
- The need to build an effective global carbon market.
- Communication "Towards a comprehensive climate change agreement in Copenhagen" and translations (January 2009)
- Translation in Mandarin Chinese (January 2009)
- Staff working document - Additional background information (January 2009)
- Staff working document - Extensive background information and analysis - part 1 (January 2009)
- Staff working document - Extensive background information and analysis - part 2 (January 2009)
- Brochure 'EU action against climate change: Leading global action to 2020 and beyond'
- Press release: Commission sets out proposals for global pact on climate change at Copenhagen.
- Citizen's summary on a comprehensive climate change agreement in Copenhagen (January 2009)
- Questions and answers on a comprehensive climate change agreement in Copenhagen (January 2009).
- On-line consultation "Towards a comprehensive and ambitious post-2012 climate change agreement" (August - October 2008)
Contributions: Academia, public authorities, NGOs, the private sector, others (zip files)
- Stakeholder conference "Towards a comprehensive and ambitious post-2012 climate change agreement in Copenhagen" (15 October 2008, Brussels)
- Review of scientific literature on climate change since the finalisation of the IPCC 4th assessment report: climate change science, impacts of climate change, mitigation and adaptation
'Towards a comprehensive climate change agreement in Copenhagen' builds on two earlier Communications:
- "Limiting Global Climate Change to 2° Celsius: The way ahead for 2020 and beyond" (January 2007) and
- "Winning the Battle Against Global Climate Change" (February 2005).
Communication "Limiting Global Climate Change to 2° Celsius: The way ahead for 2020 and beyond" (January 2007)
This Communication set out an agenda for action by developed and developing countries in order to limit global warming to 2°C. It formed part of a comprehensive package of measures to establish a new Energy Policy for EuropeDocuments and related material
- Communication "Limiting Global Climate Change to 2° Celsius: The way ahead for 2020 and beyond" (January 2007)
- Press Release on an integrated energy and climate change package to cut emissions for the 21st Century (January 2007)
- Questions and answers on the Commission Communication Limiting Global Climate Change to 2°C (January 2007)
- Layman's summary on limiting Global Climate Change to 2 degrees Celsius (January 2007)
- Impact Assessment on the Commission's Communication on limiting global climate change to 2 degrees Celsius (January 2007)
- Summary of the impact assessment on the Commission's Communication on limiting global climate change to 2 degrees Celsius (January 2007)
(pdf 50-230KB)
- Report from the Institute for Prospective Technological Studies (IPTS) on Global Climate Policy Scenarios for 2030 and beyond – Analysis of Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Pathway Scenarios with the POLES and GEM-E3 models (December 2007)
- EPRG - Presentation on the Climate and Energy Package (January 2007) (pdf 67KB)
- Statement on climate change by the Council of EU Environment Ministers (February 2007) (pdf 137KB)
- European Council statement setting out EU emission reduction targets (8-9 March 2007) (pdf 227KB)
Communication "Winning the Battle Against global Climate Change" (February 2005)
This policy paper set out the need for broad participation in the fight against climate change, including by countries and sectors not currently subject to emission targets.It highlighted the need to develop low-carbon technologies, continue and expand use of market mechanisms, and adapt to the inevitable impacts of climate change.
Documents and related material
- Communication on winning the battle against global climate change (February 2005)
- Background paper on winning the battle against global climate change (pdf ~838KB) (February 2005)
- Press release on the Commission's core elements for a post-2012 strategy (pdf 89KB) (February 2005)
- Questions and answers on the Communication on winning the battle against global climate change (pdf ~388KB) (February 2005)
- European Parliament resolution on "Winning the Battle Against Global Climate Change" (pdf ~45KB) (2005)
- Committee of the Regions Opinion on "Winning the Battle Against Global Climate Change" (pdf ~180KB) (October 2005)
- Joint Research Centre technical report (DG JRC, ref: EUR 21758 EN) "Analysis of Post-2012, Climate Policy Scenarios with Limited Participation" (pdf 536KB)
- A stakeholder conference on a post-2012 climate policy for the EU (November 2004)
- Web-based forum "Future Action on Climate Change". Submissions and summaries of submissions by sector.
- "Future Action on Climate Change: A Stakeholder Consultation on the EU's Contribution to Shaping the Future Global Climate Change Regime" (pdf 92KB). This paper aimed to stimulate discussion but does not necessarily represent the Commission's views.
- An overview of other activities, conferences and papers related to post-2012 action on climate change post-2012 can be found on the website of the "future international action on climate change network".
- Results of a study commissioned by DG Environment on Greenhouse Gas Reduction Pathways up to 2025
- Policymakers Summary (pdf ~95K),
- Technical report (pdf ~1,4M),
- Slides (pdf ~95K)
- The reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) can be found at the IPCC Website
- More information on the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol can be found on the website of the Secretariat to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
