Forging a new international agreement

EUROPEAN COMMISSION FEBRUARY 2009

Climate change

The size of the challenge

• Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing the world

• Action is needed to stabilise rising temperatures to avoid irreversible and catastrophic changes

• Global measures are needed – we have a small window of opportunity

• Action now is less costly than dealing with unchecked climate change

Warming – a reality

Warming – a reality

• Since 1850, the average global temperature is up by 0.76 °C

• Most of the warming happened in the last 50 years, due to human activities

• Causes: burning fossil fuels for energy, agriculture, deforestation

• We are already seeing climate change impacts like heat waves and more extreme weather events

What do we need to do?

• Bring big cuts to CO2 emissions and switch to low carbon technologies

• Make dramatic changes to energy use and production

• Use energy more efficiently

• Promote renewable energies and innovative technologies

• Adapt to changes that are already under way

The origins of international action

• Countries began discussing climate change in 1992, with the creation of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC)

• The first international commitments to cut CO2 came with the Kyoto Protocol in 1997

• The EU played a leading role in past agreements

and advocates strong future action

Beyond the Kyoto Protocol (1)

Kyoto is:

– Only a first step– It only runs until the end of 2012 – Not all countries are on board – including the

US– It doesn't contain commitments for developing

countries, and their emissions are fast catching up with those of developed countries

Beyond the Kyoto Protocol (2)

• A new agreement is needed• It must be more ambitious, with long-term

commitments to deeper cuts• Developed and developing countries need to act• We must keep the commitment to limit warming to 2ºC

• Global CO2 emissions need to peak by 2020 and halve by 2050

• Kyoto's successor must include support for developing countries and adaptation

EU actions (1)

EU actions (1)

In December 2008, European leaders agreed the climate and energy package, with ambitious targets for 2020.

The package means:

– 20% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 – 30% if other developed countries agree

– 20% of energy from renewable sources – 20% increase in energy efficiency

EU actions (2)

Concrete steps in package include:

– An extension of emissions trading system

– Support for carbon capture and storage

– Country-specific targets for renewable energy

A new global climate agreement: the way forward

A new global climate agreement: the way forward

• The goal is a new agreement by end 2009 at the UN conference in Copenhagen

• 192 countries are involved in the talks• We need global goals for emission cuts• We must strengthen countries' ability to adapt• We need innovative sources of funding for

developing countries• An international carbon market should be in action

by 2015

Find out more:

www.climatechange.eu.com

http://unfccc.int