Europe releases vision for Paris climate change deal

THE European Commission has outlined its vision of a United Nation climate change deal, set to be signed off this December in Paris.

   In a document released today, says governments should target greenhouse gas emission cuts of “at least” 60 per cent on 2010 levels by 2050, with countries belonging to the G20 taking the lead.

  Europe’s own initial contribution will be 40 per cent carbon cuts on 1990 levels of by 2030, a decision backed by member states last October and set to be confirmed in March.

  The proposed climate pact, due to be settled in Paris, should be in the form of a legally binding Protocol agreed under the UN, says the Commission. It wants the UN to commission a review of progress every five years to assess whether the world will avoid warming 2C above pre-industrial levels, a level deemed dangerous by scientists.

   European officials also say they expect all major economies – including India, Brazil and Saudi Arabia – to adopt ambitious economy-wide carbon reduction goals by 2025.

   But in a move that is likely to disappoint many developing countries, the bloc says it is “to early” to commit to further assurances over climate finance beyond 2020.

Leadership

    In a statement emailed to the media, EU climate and energy chief Miguel Arias Cañete called the proposals “ambitious” and said they proved Europe was “showing the way”.

    “We are the first to clearly outline our ambitious target for Paris…. now it is up to the other G20 countries – in particular China and the USA – to show the world that they too want a deal that’s worth the paper it’s printed on,” he said.

“Nobody wants a last minute frantic negotiation, so countries should show their cards and make concessions sooner rather than later.”

   Today’s document represents the proposals from the Commission – not the conclusions from the European Council – which will have the final say, but it offers an insight into what Brussels hopes to achieve in Paris and beyond.

   According to the document the EU accounts for 9 per cent of global emissions, the US 12 per cent and China 24 per cent. Canete said that as soon as countries covering 80per cent of global emissions have ratified the Paris deal, it should come into effect.

Any country wishing to join the so-called Paris Protocol would have to make a mitigation commitment, he added.

   While the EU’s decision to make an early announcement has been broadly welcomed, many observers have questioned its ambition. The goal to cut emissions 60 per cent on 2010 levels by 2050 is at the lower end of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s trajectory to avoid 2C warming, said independent analyst Niklas Hoehne.

   And a proposal to include growing carbon sinks like forests and farmlands in the EU’s 40 per cent climate goal for 2030 mean other sectors like transport and buildings could face easier carbon cuts as a result, say critics.

Nick Mabey, head of environmental think tank E3G, said the document contained too many “loopholes and ambiguities” and urged governments to reconsider their strategy.

     He described its focus on technology, trade, climate finance and adaptation plans as “incredibly weak”, and said EU views on a compliance mechanism for the Paris deal were “undefined”.

“This does not look like a 2C compatible agreement,” he said. “It’s only a starting point but it’s a pretty poor starting point… Europe has a better story to tell.”

Jennifer Morgan from the World Resources Institute called on EU leaders to consider a stronger carbon cutting goal for 2030.

She argued the EU could cut emissions 49 per cent by 2030 if it slashed natural gas imports and invested more in renewables.

“Ahead of the Paris summit, Europe has the opportunity to join other countries like the U.S. and small island states by adding an ambitious emissions reduction goal for 2025,” Morgan said.

“A 2025 goal will create an earlier opportunity for all countries to evaluate their emissions trajectory and ramp up ambition. This would be consistent with its call for regular five-year cycles starting in 2020.”