Declaration on climate change at the EU Parliament

Declaration on climate change at the European Parliament, by Stavros DIMAS, Member of the European Commission, responsible for environment, European Parliament (Mini Session), Brussels

Mr/Mrs President:

Never before has climate change been so prominent on the political agenda. The message from science is clear - climate change is happening. Citizens expect EU leadership on this issue. The Stern review and the Commission's communication on post-2012 make the economic case for action. The risks of climate change far outweigh the costs of doing something about it. Following several natural events, notably the warm winter we are experiencing this year, there is a lively public debate about the threats of climate change. The EU must use this political momentum to act. Now is the time for decisions on how to put Europe and the World on the path to a more energy secure, low-carbon future.

The urgency and scale of the climate change challenge requires Europe to further reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and convince its partners around the globe to do likewise.

The EU has the objective of limiting global warming to 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The climate change and energy package that the Commission put on the table on the 10th of January provides a blueprint for an EU strategy to meet this objective. It sketches out the basic elements of a global climate agreement post-2012, and gives a clear signal on the necessary level of ambition. This will encourage the start of negotiations on a post-2012 deal.

The strength of this fully integrated package is that it demonstrates that further reducing the EU's greenhouse gas emissions goes hand in hand with strengthening our competitiveness and the security of our energy supply. The credibility of the package is further underlined by the combination of concrete policy proposals to be adopted in 2007 or later.

The Commission proposes that developed countries, including the EU, by average take on a 30% emission reduction target by 2020, compared to 1990 levels. In addition, the Commission has put forward a number of options for engaging developing countries with the aim to limit the growth of their emissions and, eventually, reduce their emissions after 2020. The new targets for developed countries and tools to engage developing countries should form part of a new agreement to follow up from the Kyoto Protocol's first commitment period in 2013.

Obtaining such new agreement will not be easy and will require firm EU leadership. The Commission has proposed that the EU demonstrates this leadership through a clear, independent commitment to achieve at least 20% GHG emission reductions by 2020, compared to 1990 levels.

This independent commitment will help us break the deadlock in international climate negotiations. It underpins our strong determination to obtain an international agreement that will enable a 30% reduction by developed countries and provides a strong message to our partners: 'It is feasible, it is affordable and it is profitable to take ambitious action. Now is the time to move from words to action.'

The independent commitment is also essential to meet our competitiveness and energy security objectives. It ensures continuity of the carbon market and provides incentives to make investments in low carbon technology for beyond 2012.

Under EU leadership, discussions under the UN Framework are now increasingly shifting to issues of importance for an agreement on action post-2012. The Nairobi climate conference in November, whilst not making major headline grabbing decisions was in fact a step forward in terms of preparing the ground for a future agreement.

For example, Nairobi saw agreement among Parties to the Kyoto Protocol on a comprehensive work plan to be completed by 2008 or 2009 on further commitments of industrialised countries after 2012. There was a long-sought for agreement on conducting a comprehensive review of the Kyoto Protocol in 2008 and a series of important decisions on CDMs and adaptation. This will support developing countries to adapt to climate change and encourage more clean technology projects in Africa and other poorer regions.

Still, there is a large gap between talk and commitment to action. If we want an agreement within the next two to three years, the international community needs to show much more political will. Negotiations on commitments for developed countries and other contributions from developing countries need a kick start. This is precisely what the proposed 30% target and the 20% independent commitment is intended to do.

I expect the Spring Council to send a strong signal on the need for determined action on climate change and the crucial link between energy policy and climate policy. I also expect the European Council to support the targets that I just outlined to you. I hope a similar message of support for the approach proposed by the Commission will be given by the European Parliament. We need this support to strengthen political momentum behind efforts to meet the 2 degrees objective.

Climate change is a global challenge and one where the European Union's leadership is of vital importance. The debate here today only emphasises the importance of the decisions that lie ahead:

| Top |

• The EU and climate change: debate at the European Parliament (12/4/2007)
• EU General Affairs Council Conclusions (5/3/2007)
• "Towards a global agreement on tackling climate change" - Speech by EU Commissioner Dimas (3/2/2007)
• Climate change: New report underlines need for urgent global action (2/2/2007)
• Conférence de Paris pour une gouvernance écologique mondiale - discours du Président de la Commission Européenne Barroso (2/2/2007)
• EU Commission President Barroso and Commissioner Dimas to participate in Paris conference on global environment (1/2/2007)
• "Achieving our climate change objectives through renewable energy" - Speech by EU Commissioner Dimas (29/1/2007)
• "Climate Change: Why a Global Response needs European Leadership" - Speech by EU Commissioner Dimas (11/1/2007)
• EU Commission proposes integrated energy and climate change package to cut emissions for the 21st Century (10/1/2007)
• "Limiting Global Climate Change to 2 degrees Celsius": an EU Commission Communication (10/1/2007)
• EU Commission Communication "Limiting Global Climate Change to 2°C": Frequently Asked Questions (10/1/2007)