{"id":17164,"date":"2022-09-10T14:54:54","date_gmt":"2022-09-10T14:54:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/legalblog.ie\/?p=17164"},"modified":"2022-09-25T07:08:29","modified_gmt":"2022-09-25T07:08:29","slug":"eu-climate-strategy-to-2010","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/eu-climate-strategy-to-2010\/","title":{"rendered":"Climate Strategy I [EU]"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_63 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/eu-climate-strategy-to-2010\/#United_Nations_UN_climate_change_negotiations\" title=\"United Nations (UN) climate change negotiations\">United Nations (UN) climate change negotiations<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/eu-climate-strategy-to-2010\/#Background\" title=\"Background\">Background<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/eu-climate-strategy-to-2010\/#MAIN_DOCUMENT\" title=\"MAIN DOCUMENT\">MAIN DOCUMENT<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/eu-climate-strategy-to-2010\/#International_Action\" title=\"International Action\">International Action<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/eu-climate-strategy-to-2010\/#Background-2\" title=\"Background\">Background<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/eu-climate-strategy-to-2010\/#Launching_the_European_Climate_Change_Programme_ECCP\" title=\"Launching the European Climate Change Programme (ECCP)\">Launching the European Climate Change Programme (ECCP)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/eu-climate-strategy-to-2010\/#Background-3\" title=\"Background\">Background<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/eu-climate-strategy-to-2010\/#Global_climate_change_alliance\" title=\"Global climate change alliance\">Global climate change alliance<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/eu-climate-strategy-to-2010\/#Financing\" title=\"Financing\">Financing<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/eu-climate-strategy-to-2010\/#Context\" title=\"Context\">Context<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"United_Nations_UN_climate_change_negotiations\"><\/span>United Nations (UN) climate change negotiations<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Article 191 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union as it applies to EU participation in UN climate change negotiations<\/p>\n<p>THE TREATY ON THE FUNCTIONING OF THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE UN CLIMATE CHANGE NEGOTIATIONS<\/p>\n<p>Article 191 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) defines the objectives and principles of European Union (EU) environment policy and underpins the EU\u2019s participation in UN climate negotiations. In particular:<br \/>\nthe fourth indent of Article 191(1) of the TFEU specifically mentions that one of the key aims of EU environment policy is to promote measures at international level to deal with regional or worldwide environmental problems, in particular combating climate change; and<br \/>\nthe fourth paragraph of Article 191 refers to cooperation in this field with other countries and international organisations, such as the UN.<\/p>\n<p>The UN climate negotiations aim to secure international agreement on effective measures to tackle global warming. The first, in 1992, was a commitment to keep the increase in global warming to below 2oC compared to pre-industrial times.<br \/>\nThe adoption of a new global climate agreement in 2015 to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon global economy marks the culmination of years of efforts by the international community to bring about a universal, multilateral agreement on climate change.<\/p>\n<p>Key Stages<\/p>\n<p>1992: UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) established a basis for international cooperation to combat climate change by limiting average global temperature increases and the resulting climate change.<\/p>\n<p>1997: The Kyoto Protocol, the world\u2019s first legally binding agreement to cut greenhouse gas emissions, was approved. The developed countries participating pledged to reduce their total emissions by at least 5% in a first commitment period (between 2008 and 2012) compared to 1990 levels. The (then) 15 EU countries committed themselves to an 8% cut.<\/p>\n<p>2009: Copenhagen secured a political agreement, calling for specific action to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. It represented the first time all major economies had offered explicit international climate pledges. It was endorsed by over 140 countries.<\/p>\n<p>2010: Canc\u00fan acknowledged for the first time in a formal UN decision that global warming must be kept below 2oC compared to pre-industrial temperatures. It recognised that overall efforts had to be increased to meet that target.<\/p>\n<p>2011: Durban confirmed the need for a new legal agreement to tackle climate change beyond 2020 \u2014 one in which every country could play its part to the best of its ability. This would be agreed in 2015.<\/p>\n<p>2012: Doha endorsed the agreement of 38 developed countries, including the EU, to participate in a second Kyoto commitment period (2013-2020). This covers 14% of global emissions.<\/p>\n<p>2013: Warsaw produced a schedule for countries to table their contributions to reduce or limit greenhouse gas emissions under the new global climate agreement to be finalised in 2015.<\/p>\n<p>2014: Lima endorsed the Warsaw commitments, requiring all countries to describe their intended contributions for the 2015 agreement clearly, transparently and understandably. In addition, it agreed on draft elements for the agreement and on accelerating pre-2020 action.<\/p>\n<p>2015: Paris adopted the first-ever universal, legally binding global climate deal to be implemented from 2020. The agreement sets out a global action plan to put the world on track to avoid dangerous climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2oC. The EU\u2019s contribution to the new agreement is a binding emissions reduction target of at least 40% by 2030.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Background\"><\/span>Background<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>For more information, see:<\/p>\n<p>\u2018 Climate negotiations \u2019 on the European Commission&#8217;s website.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"MAIN_DOCUMENT\"><\/span>MAIN DOCUMENT<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Consolidated version of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union \u2014Part Three \u2014 Union policies and internal actions \u2014 Title XX \u2014 Environment \u2014 Article 191 (ex Article 174 TEC) (OJ C 202, 7.6.2016, pp. 132\u2013133)<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"International_Action\"><\/span>International Action<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The battle against climate change can only be won through global action. International negotiations must move beyond rhetoric towards negotiations on concrete commitments.<\/p>\n<p>The Commission believes that developed countries must commit to cutting their greenhouse gas emissions by 30% compared to 1990 levels by 2020, as part of a post-2012 international agreement. Developed countries also have the technological and financial capacity to reduce their emissions, which is why they should make most of the effort over the next decade. Emissions trading schemes will be a key tool to ensure that developed countries can reach their targets cost-effectively.<\/p>\n<p>The growth in developing countries&#8217; economies and emissions makes it essential for them to start reducing the rise in their emissions as soon as possible and to cut their emissions in absolute terms after 2020, since by 2020, these countries will be responsible for over half the greenhouse gas emissions.<\/p>\n<p>Many developing countries are already making efforts that result in significant reductions in the growth of their greenhouse gas emissions, through policies addressing economic, security or local environmental concerns. Developing countries have many strategic options where the benefits outweigh the costs, such as improving energy efficiency, promoting renewable energy, adopting measures on air quality and recovery of methane from sources such as waste.<\/p>\n<p>The following elements should be part of the process to step up action in these countries:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>streamlining and expanding the clean development mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol to cover entire national sectors;<\/li>\n<li>improving access to finance via a combination of the various mechanisms available so that developing countries can build the facilities to generate the cleanest energy possible;<\/li>\n<li>introducing emissions trading schemes for certain industrial sectors where the capacity exists to properly monitor emissions;<\/li>\n<li>countries that reach a level of development similar to that of developed countries should make a quantified, appropriate commitment;<\/li>\n<li>no commitments for least developed countries.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Lastly, a future international agreement should address issues such as further cooperation in research and technology development, halting deforestation and restoring forested areas, adapting to the inescapable impacts of climate change and concluding an international agreement on energy efficiency standards.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Background-2\"><\/span>Background<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>This communication follows up on the 2005 communication, which laid the basis for a future climate change strategy (see below under &#8220;Related acts&#8221;). The measures proposed in this strategy are closely linked to the &#8220;Energy package&#8221; published by the Commission in January 2007, which defines a new European energy policy and sets out clear, quantified targets.<\/p>\n<p>According to scientific research, the currents levels of CO2 and methane in the atmosphere are the highest they have been for 650 000 years, which causes a significant acceleration of the greenhouse effect. To stabilise global warming at an average of 2\u00b0 Celsius, global emissions must fall by almost 50% compared to 1990 levels by 2050, which implies a 60 to 80% reduction by most developed countries by 2050 and a gradual but significant effort made by developing countries.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Launching_the_European_Climate_Change_Programme_ECCP\"><\/span>Launching the European Climate Change Programme (ECCP)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The Commission has set up a cooperation body to prepare future measures and policies to combat climate change.<\/p>\n<p>Communication from the Commission of 8 March 2000 on EU policies and measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions: towards a European Climate Change Programme (ECCP) [COM(2000) 88 final &#8211; Not published in the Official Journal].<\/p>\n<p>The Commission proposes setting up an inter-departmental body tasked with identifying and preparing the implementation of measures to combat climate change.<\/p>\n<p>The aim of the European Climate Change Programme (ECCP) is to enable all stakeholders to participate in preparatory work on policies and measures to reduce greenhouse gases.<\/p>\n<p>This structure is coordinated by a steering committee, which brings together representatives of all the Commission departments that participate in the ECCP. This committee is tasked with managing and coordinating the ECCP. Its main tasks include setting up working groups on specific issues linked to climate change.<\/p>\n<p>The working groups set up in the context of the ECCP will bring together stakeholders from certain economic sectors, in particular representatives from the Commission and Member States, as well as from industry and non-governmental organisations. The first working groups set up focus on transport, industry, energy supply, energy use and flexibility mechanisms. Other groups focus on waste, agriculture and research.<\/p>\n<p>The ECCP will base its work on models and currently available work. It will be supported by the appropriate departments, especially in economic and technical fields.<\/p>\n<p>The Commission will make concrete proposals, on the basis of the reports submitted each year by the ECCP, containing instruments such as technical regulations, tax measures, voluntary agreements or flexibility mechanisms.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Background-3\"><\/span>Background<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>In order to meet the commitments that the EU made in the context of the Kyoto Protocol (an overall reduction of 8% of greenhouse gases by 2008-2012), the Commission perceives the need to strengthen the action taken in Member States and at EU level. This would be achieved by stepping up cooperation and by dovetailing environmental issues into sectoral policies.<\/p>\n<p>RELATED ACTS<\/p>\n<p>Commission Communication of 9 February 2005 &#8220;Winning the Battle Against Global Climate Change&#8221; [COM(2005) 35 final- Official Journal C 125 of 21.5.2005].<\/p>\n<p>Council Decision 2002\/358\/ECof 25 April 2002 concerning the approval, on behalf of the European Community, of the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the joint fulfilment of commitments thereunder [OJ L 130 of 15.5.2002].<\/p>\n<p>Communication from the Commission of 23 October 2001 on the implementation of the first phase of the European Climate Change Programme [COM(2001) 580 final- Not published in the Official Journal].<\/p>\n<p>Green Paper on greenhouse gas emissions trading within the European Union [COM(2000) 87 final- not published in the Official Journal].<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Global_climate_change_alliance\"><\/span>Global climate change alliance<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The European Union (EU) is proposing to launch a global alliance with the developing countries that are most vulnerable to climate change in order to help prepare them for confronting this challenge. By focusing on the least developed countries and small island States, the alliance will offer a structured dialogue and concrete cooperation on actions funded by the EU\u2019s development policy.<\/p>\n<p>Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament of 18 September 2007 \u2013 Building a global climate change alliance between the European Union and poor developing countries most vulnerable to climate change [COM(2007) 540 final\u00a0\u2013 Not published in the Official Journal].<\/p>\n<p>Developing countries will be affected most by climate change, the poorest least developed countries (LDCs) and small island developing States (SIDS) in particular, as these do not have sufficient resources to prepare for and adapt to current changes. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Africa is particularly vulnerable to this challenge. Specifically, Africa will be exposed to water stress, extreme weather events and food insecurity associated with drought and desertification.<\/p>\n<p>The Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA) aims at supporting the poorest and most vulnerable countries with respect to their capacity to adapt to the effects of climate change. It will provide a platform for dialogue and regular exchange between the EU and these countries, aiming at the integration of climate change in national development strategies and in development cooperation. This dialogue will also be conducted at regional level, for instance with the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States , the African Union (AU), SIDS and also within the framework of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). The GCCA will also provide financial and technical support for adaptation measures and the integration of climate change into development strategies.<\/p>\n<p>This exchange of views and experience outside the negotiating context will help to support the ongoing process under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), contribute to the convergence of visions between Europe and developing countries and feed into the development of a post-2012 climate agreement.<\/p>\n<p>The Commission is proposing five priority areas, to be discussed and refined in the GCCA dialogue, namely:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Implementation of measures to adapt to climate change, by supporting the development of national adaptation action plans in vulnerable countries other than LDCs and the implementation of these plans in LDCs and SIDS that have finalised them. Other measures proposed include financing pilot adaptation projects and supporting research into the impact of climate change in developing countries. The design of innovative adaptation solutions within the EU\u2019s 7th research framework programme and the food security thematic programme\u00a0is also proposed.<\/li>\n<li>Reducing emissions from deforestation in developing countries, by strengthening national capacities to monitor deforestation and developing national strategies to combat the phenomenon. Moreover, the EU is proposing the introduction of financial incentives and expansion of the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) initiative.<\/li>\n<li>Enhancement of participation in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM),thanks to the strengthening of capacities and technical support for cost-effective project development, as well as showcasing projects that are better suited to the specific conditions in LDCs and SIDS.<\/li>\n<li>Promotion of disaster risk reduction (DRR),by improving climate forecasting and information systems, and the translation of collected data into effective preparedness measures. Moreover, the Commission is proposing to support the strengthening of regional capacities for confronting the risk of climate-related disasters and the design of measures aimed at assisting developing countries in the implementation of the Hyogo framework.<\/li>\n<li>Integration of climate change into poverty reduction strategies and programmes.This involves promoting the inclusion of adaptation plans in development strategies and strengthening the institutional capacity of LDCs and SIDS so that they take climate change into account when preparing national policies. Moreover, the Commission is proposing to undertake environmental assessments for EU-funded development projects and programmes. Specifically, the Commission intends to systematically address the climate change issue on the occasion of the mid-term review of country and regional strategy papers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Financing\"><\/span>Financing<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The GCCA will be financed chiefly through the \u201cEnvironment and sustainable management of natural resources, including energy\u201d thematic programme, for which an additional \u20ac50 million have been allocated for the 2008-2010 period. Moreover, resources earmarked under the 10<sup>th<\/sup> European Development Fund (EDF), i.e. the national and regional envelopes that can contribute to the GCCA, and about \u20ac200 million under the intra-ACP programme in the area of climate change, the environment and disaster risk prevention will be available.<\/p>\n<p>The Commission is also calling on Member States to contribute to the financing of the GCCA, by allocating part of the increase in public development aid that they have committed themselves to achieving before 2010. A joint GCCA financing mechanism managed by the Commission is being explored.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Context\"><\/span>Context<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The strong link between climate change and poverty was highlighted by the EU in 2003. The idea of establishing a Global Alliance for confronting climate change was proposed in June 2007 in the Green Paper on adapting to climate change in Europe, which contains a pillar on integrating adaptation into EU external actions. As a follow-up to the European Council conclusions of March 2007, the Green Paper called for enhanced dialogue and cooperation between the EU and developing countries in this area.<\/p>\n<!--themify_builder_content-->\n<div id=\"themify_builder_content-17164\" data-postid=\"17164\" class=\"themify_builder_content themify_builder_content-17164 themify_builder tf_clear\">\n    <\/div>\n<!--\/themify_builder_content-->\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>United Nations (UN) climate change negotiations Article 191 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union as it applies to EU participation in UN climate change negotiations THE TREATY ON THE FUNCTIONING OF THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE UN CLIMATE CHANGE NEGOTIATIONS Article 191 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[215],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17164"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17164"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17164\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18532,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17164\/revisions\/18532"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17164"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17164"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17164"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}