Trade and climate change

The Council adopted a number of conclusions on the EU objectives for the further development of the international climate regime beyond 2012. In its Conclusions the Council:

-          noted that it is deeply concerned about the accelerated rate of global warming and related impacts such as heat waves, droughts and floods as confirmed by the IPCC;

-          is aware of recent economic findings, in particular that of Sir Nicholas Stern;

-          is aware of the growing global demand for energy, the increase in energy-related emissions and the likelihood of rising energy prices;

-          underlines the importance of mutually supportive EU climate and energy strategies to tackle climate change and to create synergies in order to strengthen the security of supply;

-          recalls that meeting the -2C objective will require global greenhouse gas emissions to peak within the next 10 to 15 years followed by substantial global emission reductions of up to 50% by 2050 compared to 1990;

-          emphasises that such an agreement must be reached in time to prevent a gap between the first and second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol and that to this end negotiations on a global and comprehensive post 2012 agreement needs to be launched at the UN meeting at the end of 2007;

-          reiterates its view that a global and comprehensive post 2012 agreement should be consistent with meeting the - 2C objective.

In order to achieve the 2012 agreement the following elements are considered essential parts of an effective and appropriate framework beyond 2012:

-          agreeing to deeper absolute emission reduction commitments by developed countries;

-          facilitating further fair and effective contributions by other countries, including incentives set by new and flexible types of commitment;

-          extending the carbon market, including innovative and enhanced flexible mechanisms;

-          increasing co-operation on technology research;

-          increasing RT&D co-operative research;

-          enhancing efforts to address adaptation through, for example, risk management instruments;

-          addressing emissions from international aviation and maritime transportation;

-          reducing emissions from deforestation and enhancing sinks by sustainable forest management and land use practices.

As a result, the Council

-          reiterates that absolute emission reduction commitments are the backbone of a global carbon market and that developed countries should continue to take the lead by committing to collectively reducing their emissions of greenhouse gases in the order of 30% by 2020 compared to 1990 with a view to collectively reducing their emissions by 60 to 80% by 2050 compared to 1990;

To conclude, the Council:

-          is aware that the deep cuts described above will not avoid serious climate impacts – particularly in those countries most vulnerable to climate change;

-          looks forward to the Commission’s Green Paper on adaptation to climate change;

-          welcomes the Commission’s proposal for a Directive to include aviation activities in the scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community; and

-          -          emphasises that a global and comprehensive post 2012 agreement should further determine an outline for future commitments and contributions leading up to 2050.