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Thursday, March 11, 2010

Which EU strategy for the post Copenhagen climate deal?

The post Copenhagen climate deal was debated by MEPs Tuesday afternoon with Europe's climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard. It it important for the EU to for the next climate conference in Mexico at the end of the year The Commissioner was quizzed by the MEPs on the content and the aims of the European Commission's latest communication on climate change talks titled "International Climate Change policy post-Copenhagen - reinvigorating the international negotiations through immediate action". The communication was published on 9 March.

Managing expectations

Speaking in the debate Ms Hedegaard told the House that a final agreement may be delayed despite the EU being ready. She said that it was very important that expectations for Cancun are managed carefully, as failure may give a boost to those arguing that no deal is necessary.

Ms Hedegaard, a former climate Minister of Denmark said that we need tangible deliverables in Cancun, we must put pressure on US and China and must focus on content not form.

For Richard Seeber from the centre right European People's Party there is a confidence crisis in Europe concerning climate change topic. Polls show that only 30 percent of European citizens believe that CO2 has an impact on climate.

Another Doha disappointment?

Speaking on behalf of the Socialists and Democrats group Jo Leinen is concernend that have a mechanism that would allow the exchange of information and positions on climate change issues is needed. However, he is afraid that the climate talks will turn out as Doha trade talks.

For the Liberal ALDE bloc Chris Davies said that in climate change talks the EU is dependent on the goodwill of other parties and cannot sign a deal by itself, "you will need all the friends you can get". For the Green group in the Parliament Satu Hassi (Greens/EFA) said the EU must move beyond its 20% reduction by 2020 goal and aim for 30 percent reduction at least.

Finally for the European Conservatives and Reformists Martin Callanan said that in the absence of a deal, unilateral emissions reductions could harm the competitiveness of European economy.

Source  European Parliament

More information  European Parliament

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