COUCIL OF THE EUROPEA UIO
Brussels, 18 December 2008
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EV 988 EER 462 FISC 186 DEVGE 269 TRAS 470 FORETS 82 OU 108 IFORMATIO OTE from : General Secretariat to : Delegations Climate change: Subject : 14th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 14) 4th Session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 4) 29th Session of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA 29) 29th Session of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI 29) Resumed 6th session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol (Resumed AWG-KP 6) 4th session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action (AWG-LCA 4) (Poznan, 1-13 December 2008) = Compilation of EU statements Delegations will find attached for information a compilation of statements delivered by the French Presidency on behalf of the European Community and its Member States during COP 14, CMP 4, SBs 29, resumed AWG-KP 6, AWG-LCA 4 and the High-Level Segment. Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro and Turkey (except for the statements relating to Article 9 and AWG-KP 6) have aligned themselves with these statements. __________________ 17112/08
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AEX EU opening statement for COP 14/CMP 4
It is a year since we met in Bali and agreed a road map that will take us to Copenhagen in a year’s time. Our meeting here is Poznan is the mid-point of that process. We have used up half of the time we allotted ourselves; we have met three times, in Bangkok, in Bonn, and in Accra; and we have discussed some of the key issues that are on the table. But we have a huge amount to do to ensure the successful conclusion in 2009 of negotiations under both the Convention and the Kyoto Protocol in a comprehensive agreement. The European Union’s environment ministers met a few weeks ago and highlighted the need to speed up the preparation of the Copenhagen agreement. We pledge to cooperate with all Parties to ensure that we make here the transition to full negotiating mode. A great deal of attention will rightly be focused here on the work of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long Term Cooperative Action. The debate within the AWG-LCA has been rich and constructive. We have begun to discuss the essential questions that we have to address in our negotiations next year – such as how to strengthen our cooperative actions on adaptation, create the right conditions so that investment will use the most efficient technologies, develop public policies that mobilise investment and financial flows for low greenhouse gas emitting development. We have also begun to talk about what the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities could mean to the mitigation actions that different countries undertake, including in terms of levels of ambition, the nature of the actions undertaken and the tools available to support efforts. We will take that debate forward here with workshops on the shared vision, risk management, and research and development. In these days of a beginning economic recession, we hear voices that there is little finance, and that the fight against climate change has to wait. Indeed, recovery from the economic recession over the coming 2-3 years is yet an additional challenge while the fight against climate change cannot wait. The EU is working hard to turn this into an opportunity. The road to economic recovery will require fresh investments to make our economies and societies more efficient and fit for the future. Investing in energy efficiency will create jobs, reduce our energy bill, and promote global energy security; investing in clean technologies will boost sectors like construction and automobiles in the low carbon markets of the future. We need collectively to find a way to ensure growth, to reduce poverty, and at the same time reduce massively greenhouse gas emissions . We need to live in a better way without putting the planet in danger. That is the aim of our cooperation. And cooperation is the key word. The shared vision is both about the stabilisation objective – and as you know the EU considers that a warming of more than 2°C would be dangerous – and finding a global agreement on how development can take account of climate change.
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But it is also much more than that. It is about a future in which we find a new way to reconcile development and climate. Let us change our thinking and turn some key questions on their heads. Mitigation is not only about reducing emissions, it is about restructuring our economies so that future economic growth lowers our emissions: for that, we need to get right the planning, the development of our cities and our infrastructures which create the basis for sustainable low carbon growth; investment decisions by the public and the private sector need to introduce a carbon price and enable a massive increase in energy and resource efficiency and the generalisation of low carbon technologies; and behaviour, production and consumption patterns must evolve. If we get that right, then reducing global emissions by at least 50% by 2050 compared with 1990 levels will cease to be a theoretical line on a chart produced by a modeller and become the reality of the coming decades. Developed countries must continue to take the lead. Within the EU we are close to adopting the legislation and defining the tools that will enable us already to reduce emissions by 20% by 2020 from 1990 levels. Our ministers will meet again this week, Heads of State and Government next week, and the European Parliament shortly afterwards. We are having a frank and open debate on the modalities of that system, but the level of our ambition is in no doubt and by the end of this conference we will be able to show concretely how we will meet this target. But our ambition does not stop there: we intend to go further and to reduce our emissions by 30% in 2020 compared to 1990 and our new legislation will be designed so as to enable us to take such a subsequent step. We will do that if all developed countries undertake a comparable level of effort to us, but we also need developing countries to contribute in line with their responsibilities and their capabilities – a significant deviation from business as usual. We invite all parties in the coming months to put their proposals on the table so that we can work together towards such a deal next year that will enable that scale of transition of our medium and long term pathways. So I hope that we can leave Poznan in two weeks time ready to start full negotiations under the AWG-LCA. We have an assembly text which will enable us to undertake a stock-taking here in Poznan – we in the EU have made six submissions in the past weeks which we will present and we expect our ideas to be included in the revised text that leaves Poznan. Under the Protocol, we will take forward our work under the AWG-KP and seek a result on the second review of the Protocol under its article 9 that will allow to take some immediate decisions here, whilst other issues could be picked up under the AWG-KP, AWG-LCA or the subsidiary bodies in 2009. The work programme for 2009 will be a key output here. We hope to make substantial progress here on many other issues such as reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation – we have already made good progress that can already be reflected in a decision here. We will continue enhancing the implementation of adaptation measures – including through the Nairobi Work Programme which is proving its worth – and look forward to seeing the Kyoto Protocol Adaptation Fund fully operational. Action on technology development and diffusion can also move forward here – and the agreement by the Global Environment Fund of the strategic programme on technology provides a good basis. Let me also repeat our support for the operator of the financial mechanism, the FEM, and we would ensure its next replenishment, upgrading and its efficiency – in a word its reform. And we can work towards an agreement on a future financial architecture which should include principles such as equity, efficiency and effectiveness. We are also keen to strengthen the Kyoto Protocol’s flexible mechanisms – and in the post 2012 debate discuss how to build on them to develop more effective tools.
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We will have further opportunities to present our detailed views on all of the topics under the COP, CMP, AWG-LCA, AWG-KP, SBSTA and SBI. And we will also present our ideas and our actions in more depth through our side events particularly in the EU Pavilion. But above all, I want us to use this meeting to discuss collectively and to build trust – the spirit of Poznan – so that next year when we meet in Copenhagen we can collectively be certain of success.
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Agenda item COP 14/5(c) : Development and transfer of technologies. The EU would like to support the ongoing work of EGTT, in particular regarding performance indicators, technology financing, and a long-term strategy on technology. The findings of these reports should be critical to the consideration of technology under the AWG-LCA. Thus, the EU encourages the EGTT to speed up the finalisation of this work so as to report in timely manner for appropriate consideration by the AWG-LCA. The EU welcomes the report of the GEF elaborating a strategic programme for scaling up financing of technology transfer in the short term. The EU supports the adoption of the suggested programme, which among other things would provide funding for preparation and delivery of more and better technology needs assessments. The EU is prepared to review and assess the implementation of existing commitments to international technology cooperation, and to scale up support for technology cooperation as part of a comprehensive, fair and effective post 2012 agreement. The EU supports the ongoing work of EGTT, in particular regarding performance indicators, technology financing, and a long-term strategy on technology. The findings of these reports should be critical to the consideration of technology under the AWG-LCA. Thus, the EU encourages the EGTT to speed up the finalisation of this work so as to report in timely manner for appropriate consideration by the AWG-LCA.
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Agenda item CMP 4/13 :
Preparations for the second review of the Kyoto Protocol pursuant to its Article 9
In the first years of its existence the Kyoto Protocol has proved to be an innovative and promising instrument that provides tools for concerted international action, involving both developed and developing countries, in order to achieve global, long term and cost efficient emissions reductions. The second review under Article 9 of the Kyoto Protocol should draw on the lessons learned in implementing the Kyoto Protocol and further improve its effectiveness in fighting climate change. The EU thus looks forward to finalizing the discussions on the issues specified in Decision 4/CMP.3 as well as on other issues proposed by Parties, and welcomes the valuable input to this work provided by Parties submissions, the two workshops held in Bonn and Athens, as well as the papers issued by the Secretariat. We thank the Co-Chairs for their able guidance throughout this year that enabled us to have fruitful and substantial discussions. We also thank the Secretariat for the organisation of the workshops and the input to the discussions. It is the EUs view that the review of the Kyoto Protocol should first of all recognise the value of the Kyoto Protocol and its architecture as a solid foundation to build on, acknowledging at the same time that it needs further improvement. This second review of the Protocol has been thoroughly prepared; so we have a very good basis for taking substantial decisions at this meeting. As an outcome of the review, the EU envisages the adoption of CMP decisions on some issues, for immediate implementation. On the effectiveness and functioning of the flexibility mechanisms, several elements have been identified as needing improvements that should be implemented already in the first commitment period. Issues relating to review could be improved as well. With relation to these issues to the extent possible decisions should already be taken at this meeting in Poznan. Further, the CMP should also take decisions that forward issues identified in the review that could not be already decided here in Poznan – because they require further work - to appropriate existing bodies, for instance on immunities and on simplification of procedures to inscribe commitments into Annex B, with a view to adopt final decisions at CMP5. On the issue of leveraging finance for adaptation the EU is convinced that this is an important issue that cannot be already decided on in the context of the review. Instead, it has to be considered in light of the broader context of the AWG-LCA discussions on finance. Mr Chairman, the EU looks forward to fruitful discussions on these issues during this session.
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EU opening statement for SBSTA 29
SBSTA has important work to undertake to advise the COP and the CMP in its work. In Poznan we can in particular continue to move forward on the Nairobi Work Programme – a very practical example of how we can strengthen understanding, capacity and so action on adaptation. We must continue to play our role as an interface between the scientific community and the parties and so ensure that emerging scientific findings are brought to our attention in 2009 – building on studies since the IPCC fourth assessment report was agreed. And we have a major opportunity to build on the very constructive progress since Bali on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation so as to adopt a further decision here in Poznan on this key subject. In conjunction with SBI we will work further on the issue of technology development and transfer. And we will build on the agreement in Bonn to discuss together the SBI item on article 3.14 of the Protocol and the SBSTA item on article 2.3. The European Union looks forward to working with you, Chair, and all Parties to make this meeting a success.
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Agenda item 5a : Reducing emissions from deforestation in developing countries: approaches to stimulate action The EU thanks Japan for hosting the workshop on methodological issues relating to reducing emissions from deforestation in developing countries and other Parties for their financial support. The workshop showed that methodologies and technologies to collect data on emissions from deforestation and degradation exist to apply the indicative guidance contained in the annex to decision 2/CP.13. We think SBSTA should use the indicative guidance and other areas of consensus as a basis for preparing a draft COP decision for Poznan on methodological and related issues. We suggest that SBSTA continues to work on reference emission levels. We think submissions due in early 2009 would facilitate further discussions on this. We welcome the establishment under the Convention on Biological Diversity of an Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group (AHTEG) on biodiversity and climate change, and thanks the experts for their first report, and we will examine it carefully.
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Agenda Item 6 : Research and systematic observation The EU welcomes the opportunity to express its view on the role of systematic observation in the context of the negotiations on the way to Copenhagen. The EU welcomes the reports submitted by the Committee for Earth Observing Satellites, CEOS, and the Global Terrestrial Observing System, GTOS, and the brief statements to introduce these reports and acknowledges the progress reported by both organisations. The EU also welcomes the information provided by the Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Global Climate Observing System, GCOS. The EU recognizes that progress under CEOS, GTOS and GCOS depends on the engagement of their members, sponsoring agencies and organizations and therefore would like to commend these institutions for their continued support in advancing the GCOS Implementation Plan. The EU supports the priorities for this session and agrees to defer a more detailed discussion of systematic observation to the 30th meeting of the SBSTA next summer. However, the EU would like to reemphasize the overarching importance of the availability of climate observations to informing the negotiations as well as for scientific advice to policy makers and many other stakeholders. The EU believes that successful mitigation and, even more, adaptation will not be possible without reliable and sustained climate information based on systematic observation.
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Agenda item 7b : Greenhouse gas data interface The EU would like to thank the UNFCCC secretariat for developing and maintaining the greenhouse gas data interface as requested by SBSTA 27. The release from November 2008 includes the latest available emissions data as well as some socio economic information for all Parties. It has proven to be a user friendly tool which can be accessed at different levels of detail according to the needs and expertise of the user. The EU believes that the data interface should be further developed to enhance its value, especially by including additional socio-economic information and by including an online link to the compilation and accounting database containing all relevant information on emissions and accounting under the Kyoto Protocol. The EU understands that negotiations on the data interface will not be able to continue as planned due to the full agenda in Poznan. We are therefore looking forward to informally exchanging views on this issue with other interested Parties here in Poznan and to the negotiations during SBSTA 30.
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Agenda item 7(c): Emissions from fuel used for international aviation and maritime transport The EU would like to thank the Secretariats of both the IMO and ICAO for their presentations. More generally we would like to thank them both for their work, and for the efforts they are making to progress this issue. Unfortunately, we notice that in all international fora, including here in the UNFCCC, there is either very little, or no progress on the adoption of measures to reduce the emissions of green house gases from international aviation and maritime transport. Within IMO, ICAO and UNFCCC processes, work is been slowed down or blocked by procedural discussions. We agreed to suspend SBSTA work for the time being, to concentrate on the definition of a future framework. In the UNFCCC, starting here in Poznan, and in IMO and ICAO, we should all work constructively, ensuring that progress is not slowed down by discussions on which organisation should take responsibility for action. We all need to act urgently in all fora, taking into account the differing circumstances, responsibilities and capabilities of Parties.
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Agenda item 8(b):Methodological issues under the Kyoto Protocol: Carbon dioxide capture and storage in geological formations as clean development mechanism project activities The EU welcomes the opportunity to progress discussions with other Parties on how carbon dioxide capture and storage can be considered as a clean development mechanism project activity. The EU supports consideration of CCS as a CDM project activity provided that the necessary technical, economic and regulatory framework exists to ensure maximum environmental integrity and safety, with the aim of avoiding seepage. We intend to build on previous discussions and input from Parties, informed by the Secretariat’s two synthesis reports on technical, methodological, legal and policy issues. We welcome the positive contribution made by these reports, in particular the way they have been able to reflect the views of Parties and establish substantial areas of agreement. The EU has already proposed a pilot phase approach for the inclusion of CCS in the CDM, and we intend to pursue and develop this proposal further. Under the pilot phase approach, the EB would initially consider a small number of pilot CCS projects, which would also be limited in terms of their duration and the number of CERs generated. The EU considers that the pilot approach will serve as a learning-by-doing phase to improve inter alia institution building, technology transfer, and the acquisition of practical experience in relation to safety, liability, and market impacts. We would like to develop this proposal in the Contact Group and discuss in an open way with Parties to explore how this could be the basis of a decision at COP/MOP4. _____________________
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Agenda Item 9: Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change The EU would like to thank the representatives of IPCC for their interesting presentations at the workshop held at SBSTA 28 in Bonn. These provided greater depth to the information already presented by IPCC at previous sessions and a sense of emerging findings. The EU would also like to thank the Secretariat for its summary of the presentations contained in document UNFCCC/SBSTA/2008/8. The workshop provides further evidence that emissions need to be reduced urgently and on a scale that will put the world on track to limit temperature rises to not more than 2°C relative to preindustrial levels. An information reference document on why the EU thinks it would be dangerous to exceed a 2°C warming is available at the EU pavilion. We support the decision to close this specific SBSTA agenda item at this meeting. However, it is important that the Parties continue to be kept informed of developments of climate change science and the options for responding through mitigation and adaptation. We suggest that the IPCC be invited to provide expert views on such developments ahead of CoP-15, at appropriate meetings throughout 2009 and at CoP-15 itself. The EU believes that it would be particularly useful for Parties to hear about significant scientific developments compared to the AR4 as part of the ongoing dialogue with the international research programmes. Finally, Parties should be aware of the process of developing the coverage of the IPCC’s fifth assessment report, which will be scoped in mid-2009 and the outline agreed in late autumn 2009. The EU suggests that Parties should be invited to provide submissions on what policy relevant questions they would like to see addressed in the 5th Assessment Report. The EU suggests that the Secretariat be asked to collate such submissions for onward transmission to the IPCC, in time for their scoping meetings.
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EU opening statement for SBI 29
We are spending a lot of time here in Poznan on the question of how to strengthen future multilateral action on climate change. But we believe it is also vital to follow and to strengthen the implementation of our existing commitments and decisions. The work of SBI at this meeting remains as important as ever. For example, the overview of information on the inventories of Annex I Parties is extremely valuable. We are making valuable progress on the development and transfer of technology under SBI and SBSTA, building on the work of the EGTT and the decision of the GEF on a strategic programme. We have to undertake the fourth review of the financial mechanism, and look at the reports of the GEF and the LDCF. We can move forward on the implementation of decision 1/CP.10 – both on adaptation to the adverse impacts of climate change and the effects of response measures. And we will build on the agreement in Bonn to discuss together the SBI item on article 3.14 of the Protocol and the SBSTA item on article 2.3. The European Union looks forward to working with you, Chair, and all Parties to make this meeting a success. _________________
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Agenda item 6: Annual compilation and accounting report for Annex B Parties under the Kyoto Protocol The EU would like to thank the secretariat for the first report on accounting information as recorded in the secretariat’s compilation and accounting database for Annex B Parties under the Kyoto Protocol. This annual report contains the most essential data showing the progress in the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol such as the status of eligibility to use Kyoto mechanisms, base year emissions or the election of LULUCF activities under Articles 3.3 and 3.4 of the Kyoto Protocol. The report provides a transparent and complete overview of all relevant information necessary for the accounting under the Kyoto Protocol. The EU believes that this important information on GHG emissions and accounting units contained in the compilation and accounting database should also be accessible directly on the UNFCCC website. This would ensure that information becomes available more timely to Parties and the general public, e.g. some Parties became eligible to participate in the Kyoto Protocol mechanisms by 1 January 2008 which is only communicated in a report released on 17 November 2008. An online access to this key information after the recording of such data in the CAD would provide more timely information to Parties and the public. The EU would like to further discuss a direct link to the compilation and accounting database as part of the ongoing discussions on the GHG data interface under the related SBSTA agenda item. The EU would also like to note that all of its 25 Member States were found eligible to use the Kyoto mechanisms upon completion of the reviews.
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Agenda item 7 (also SBSTA 29 agenda item 4): Development and transfer of technologies. •
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The EU would like to support the ongoing work of EGTT, in particular regarding performance indicators, technology financing, and a long-term strategy on technology. The findings of these reports should be critical to the consideration of technology under the AWG-LCA. Thus, the EU encourages the EGTT to speed up the finalisation of this work so as to report in timely manner for appropriate consideration by the AWG-LCA. The EU welcomes the report of the GEF elaborating a strategic programme for scaling up financing of technology transfer in the short term. The EU supports the adoption of the suggested programme, which among other things would provide funding for preparation and delivery of more and better technology needs assessments. The EU is prepared to review and assess the implementation of existing commitments to international technology cooperation, and to scale up support for technology cooperation as part of a comprehensive, fair and effective post 2012 agreement. The EU supports the ongoing work of EGTT, in particular regarding performance indicators, technology financing, and a long-term strategy on technology. The findings of these reports should be critical to the consideration of technology under the AWG-LCA. Thus, the EU encourages the EGTT to speed up the finalisation of this work so as to report in timely manner for appropriate consideration by the AWG-LCA.
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Agenda item 11: Matters relating to the implementation of Art. 3, Paragraph 14, of the Kyoto Protocol The EU welcomes the establishment of a joint contact group to address matters relating to the implementation of Articles 2.3 and 3.14 of the Kyoto Protocol. We hope that the spirit of compromise from all Parties in establishing this joint contact group in Bonn helps in moving the overall process forward. We look forward to the work of this joint contact group and hope that this arrangement will allow us to discuss the substance of both agenda items in an effective and efficient manner taking into consideration the limited time and amount of work before us. The EU is fully committed to the implementation of its obligations under the Kyoto Protocol, and is keen to share its experiences from doing so. We look forward to strengthening a constructive dialogue with the aim of adopting conclusions which will apply to both SBSTA and SBI.
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Resumed 6th session of the Ad hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol (Resumed AWG-KP 6)
The EU is looking forward to the discussions in this resumed sixth session of the AWG-KP. We are here to work intensively and constructively together. We aim at a global and comprehensive agreement by 2009. An agreement which builds on and broadens the architecture of the Kyoto Protocol, and that allows us to stay below two degrees of warming. Little time is left, here at Poznan we need to show progress in line with our work programme. While EU recognizes that our work is of an iterative nature and that all of its elements continue to be of relevance, we need to move and focus on negotiations of emission reduction targets for Annex I Parties in 2009. We look forward to the strategic discussion in our second plenary, and to further elaborate our views on how the AWG-KP work should proceed during the workshop on mitigation potentials. We would like to continue our constructive discussion on environmental, economic and social consequences, including spillover effects, of tools, policies, measures and methodologies available to Annex I. Mr Chair, we see a lot of synergies appearing, especially between our work and that of the AWGLCA – response measures/spillover effects, comparability of efforts for developed countries, adaptation finance and carbon market mechanisms with crediting building on enhanced developing country action as examples. We must maintain and further exploit synergies between all elements and negotiation tracks. We have only a year to go to the agreement in Copenhagen, and we confirm that the EU is committed to move into full negotiation mode. In our view, it is essential to maintain flexibility in the planning of work. Discussions are scheduled on legal matters – this is indeed an important point to discuss to ensure we are able to reach our agreement in Copenhagen. Poznan is a key meeting on our road to Copenhagen. It is here we will take stock of our progress and consider how conclusions we adopted in past sessions can be used to build agreement. Mr Chair, the EU thanks you for your dedication and drive over the past months. We pledge our support to you and reiterate that we are committed to progressing our work here in Poznan and over the next year.
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Agenda item 5: Consideration of information on potential environmental, economic and social consequences, including spillover effects, of tools, policies, measures and methodologies available to Annex I Parties
The EU continues to give full attention to the important issue of spillover effects. Parties have been developing a comprehensive framework under both the Convention and the Kyoto Protocol to take into account possible spillover effects of mitigation action. We are ready to further explore how the possible environmental, economic and social consequences might impact on Parties, especially poorer developing countries. This is a complex issue – in part due to the difficulty of making full analysis of potential consequences of planned policies in the drafting process and in monitoring. The EU is aware of these difficulties and is making efforts to monitor the effects of policies implemented. This will help us assess effects not envisaged in the policy design – and to inform possible solutions. Efforts to assess potential spillover effects should not prevent us developing and implementing ambitious policies and measures to prevent dangerous climate change which our ultimate objective. The EU acknowledges the need for cooperation to enhance our understanding on this issue. In order to achieve this more information on the nature of the effects that have been experienced, primarily from developing countries, is needed. We generally believe that any such consideration should strive to cover both positive and negative consequences. We should equally seek to maximise the positive effects while minimising undue negative consequences. The EU pledges its support to you, Mr. Chair. We are committed to progressing our work on this issue here in Poznan and at the workshop early next year.
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AWG-KP 6.2 : Second Plenary On the issues we are dealing with today, we would like to share some elements of reflection based on the questions you highlighted in your scenario note. The work of the IPCC has provided us with a clear guidepost for our work on the scale of emission reductions to be achieved by Annex I countries in aggregate, in particular, we recognised the range of 25 to 40% for emission reduction objectives for Annex I countries as a group. The group concluded that quantified reduction commitments would be met through means that may be available to Annex I countries, i.e. a combination of domestic and international efforts. There are a number of important conclusions to be drawn from the AWG-KPs work so far that have implications for the agreement of further commitments of Annex I Parties. No one questioned the continuation of QELROs for developed countries, the continued availability of means including flexibility mechanisms, LULUCF. Of course it is necessary to clarify further the rules relating to these aspects, and to others such as the possible surplus of AAUs We noted the importance of tackling emissions from international aviation and maritime transport. We must continue our work on this basis and bring these elements together in our work in 2009 to arrive at a robust result in Copenhagen. In this regard, it is also important to look for synergies with the work of the AWG-LCA. Regarding our activities in 2009, the AWG-KP should focus its work on the scale of emission reduction by Annex I as a group, the principles and indicators for the allocation of mitigation efforts among Annex I Parties – we heard a lot about these issues in our workshop yesterday. We, again, invite other Parties to come forward with concrete proposals for what they are prepared to contribute to the global effort. More detailed analysis and figures would help us on our way in 2009. We will also need to deal with legal matters. As mentioned earlier, we will also need to clarify rules relating to means. We only have one year left, so the use of workshops or roundtables should be limited to ensure progress towards the completion of work as envisaged. We are looking forward to further developing these ideas in the contact group. Thank you, Mr Chair.
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4th session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action (AWG-LCA 4)
The EU is looking forward to the discussions in this fourth session of the AWG-LCA and is willing to closely work with you in order to make the most of this meeting. As you know, it is almost a year since we adopted the Bali Action Plan by which we all agreed to work in a collaborative manner to enhance the implementation of the Convention. We believe that our debates so far have been rich and constructive. We have discussed the essential questions that we will address in our negotiations next year – such as how to strengthen our cooperative actions on adaptation, create the right conditions so that investment will use the most efficient technologies, develop public policies that mobilise investment and financial flows for low greenhouse gas emitting development. We have also talked about what the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities could mean for the mitigation actions of different countries including in terms of levels of ambition, the nature of the actions undertaken and the tools available to support efforts. We welcome in this regard the first assembly document you have just issued, Mr Chair. We see this as an interesting compilation of views expressed by all Parties, and a useful basis for identifying what needs to be negotiated in 2009 as we shift into full negotiating mode. We recognise there is still a lot of work to do, but we can already see some areas in which communalities can be found such as adaptation or the shared vision. May we note that we see more and more synergies appearing between our various discussion tracks – especially between our work in the AWG-LCA and that of the AWG-KP, for example on the issues of comparability of efforts for developed countries, and of carbon market mechanisms with crediting building on enhanced developing country action. We believe it is useful and will become more and more important to maintain and further exploit such synergies next year. But for now, Mr Chairman, it is clear that we still have some work to do here in Poznan. We have been very interested in the views expressed by many Parties since our last meeting in Accra, and by the various proposals which have been put forward to address the building blocks of the Bali Action Plan. On its side, the EU has also recently put forward a number of submissions on shared vision, mitigation (including REDD), adaptation, technology, and finance. We hope that these elements will be a useful contribution to our discussions in Poznan – which is indeed the last opportunity we have to make substantive progress in 2008.
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As you know, one specific point that will be essential in our discussions here in Poznan is the shared vision. We will take that debate forward here beginning with a workshop, and concluding by a ministerial round table during the high-level segment. As expressed in our submission, we believe that the shared vision should be a clear statement of political will by all leaders, translating the ultimate objective of the Convention into a vision of sustainable development for all countries, putting the world on a pathway towards a low carbon society that enables global average temperature increase to be limited to not more than 2°C above pre-industrial levels and thereby avoids dangerous climate change, while allowing for sustained economic welfare, safeguarding the environment, ensuring that food production is not threatened and strengthening climate resilience. In this regard we think the shared vision should embody confidence in the future and should inspire our societies to make things happen. Mr Chairman, we look forward to developing these ideas further and to fruitful discussions during this session. We thank you Mr Chair for your able guidance.
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EU Opening statement for the High Level Segment Dear Ministers, dear colleagues We are now midway between Bali and Copenhagen. We have made much progress during this year. Our negotiators have in fact identified several concrete options to strengthen the post-2012 regime, and have also deepened our dialogue. Nevertheless, we are still far from reaching an agreement in Copenhagen. This means that Poznan is really a key step where everything could change. The message from scientists is clear. It is based on objective data that are not argued today. The key issue now is to state our ambition for the short-, mid- and long-term, in order to guarantee a low-carbon economic development. We will discuss this during the round table on shared vision. For us, this vision is simple: it means addressing the two main challenges of the 21st century – on one hand, the fight against poverty and on the other hand the fight against climate change, mitigation and adaptation. In Brussels today, the Heads of States of the European Union are meeting to set the measures that will allow us to meet the 20 % reduction target of our emissions in 2020 compared to 1990. Also, the European Union is committed to reducing its emissions by up to 30 % if a satisfying agreement is reached in Copenhagen. I invite all Ministers present here to define their ambitions, their reduction commitments, as well as the concrete implementation means. Here in Poznan, we should all be engaged, if not we will not be able to reach an agreement. This does not mean adding up individual or isolated measures, but building a consistent, fair and quantifiable framework, which will enable a smooth transition between two growth models. In this context, we should strengthen all mechanisms for financial and technological cooperation. I would like to finish with this remark: The financial crisis can not and must not discourage us. On the contrary, it is a historical opportunity to invest on a wide scale in the infrastructures and the technologies that we need. We should take advantage of the present urgency– this means revitalising our economies – to prepare our future. I am convinced that we can succeed, but on two conditions. First, negotiators must leave Poznan with a work program as complete as possible. Second, it is essential that Ministers stay closely involved in the negotiation process: what we most need today is a political agreement. The outcome of negotiations in Poznan is already addressing the first condition. It is up to us now to face this challenge and bring the political momentum needed to make our way towards Copenhagen a success.
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17112/08 ANNEX
MDL/mko/ach DG I
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Round table on shared vision Dear Ministers, dear colleagues, I think we all agree on the urgency of climate change and the seriousness, rigour and objectivity of the various scientific studies carried out in this area. As you know, climate change is already a reality for millions of people. We also know that without large and agreed actions, temperature could increase to 3, 4 or even 6 degrees with still unpredictable economic, social and political consequences. We would then go beyond a point of no return which could be a huge leap into the unknown. We do have today some consensus to limit global warming to 2 degrees. We are all aware that this objective is not easy to achieve. This means that we need a profound review of our production and consumption patterns, our transport policies, the organisation of our cities, and the composition of our energy mixture, in order to develop a low-carbon growth. Before getting into detail about technical measures, we should first agree on a shared vision, in particular on how to organise global scientific and financial cooperation. We should be realistic: success will depend directly on our ability to mobilize new financial means based on simple principles such as equity and efficiency. This is normal and justifiable as far as the efforts taken in a country to reduce global CO2 emissions benefit us all. I would like us to mobilize considerable resources from the carbon market. But I would like us also to go further than the carbon market by creating new mechanisms even more efficient than the clean development mechanism. We should also use existing structures – in particular the Global Environment Facility which should be strengthened and reformed – which would play a considerable role. As I keep saying, the financial crisis is not an obstacle but an important stimulator. It is a historical opportunity to invest massively in the infrastructures and technologies that we need. We should take advantage of the present urgency – that means saving our economies – to prepare our future. This is the choice we have made in France, this is the choice we have made in Europe and this is the choice we propose to you.
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17112/08 ANNEX
MDL/mko/ach DG I
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