Transcript EU actions (1)

Climate change
EUROPEAN COMMISSION FEBRUARY 2009
Forging a new international
agreement
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