Golden Opportunity for EU in Copenhagen

Dec. 15, 2009 - PRLog -- As European Heads of State arrive in Copenhagen, The European Environmental Bureau (EEB) is urging the EU Commission and Member States to fight further stalling and seize the opportunity for Europe to lead the way towards effectively combating climate change. The European Heads of State come to Copenhagen under world scrutiny and expectation that a fair, ambitious and binding global climate agreement is delivered.

The EEB, Europe’s largest federation of environmental citizens’ organisations, is demanding that the EU sets strong reduction targets of at least 30% by 2020, with no loopholes such as reliance on surplus emission allowances from the existing commitment period, overlooking forestry emissions and carbon offsets. The EEB also calls for immediate steps to raise this target to 40% - in line with calls from climate science on what is necessary to prevent human disaster.

“European Heads of State have the opportunity to not only help steer Europe on the correct path towards ambitious carbon emissions reductions, but to set the right tone for the final crucial hours of this faltering conference, and help secure a positive outcome,” said John Hontelez, Secretary General of the EEB. “As well as binding targets to reduce the EU’s emissions by at least 30% (moving up to 40% as soon as possible), the EU must also demonstrate they are willing to offer new, long-term financing to help the mitigation and adaption needs of poorer countries.”

The EEB is calling for the EU to offer financial support to poorer nations in addition to Official Development Assistance (ODA) funds. The EEB says at least €35bn Euros a year should be made available to poorer nations, many of which are most at risk from the effects of climate change.

Catherine Pearce, Climate Change Policy Officer at The EEB, commented: “We have recently seen developing countries take a stand against what they see as foot dragging by the wealthier nations. Tomorrow, European leaders have the chance to put this right by promising real, concrete targets with regards to further emission reductions under Kyoto and financial support.”


**************************


Contacts:

In Copenhagen:
Catherine Pearce, Policy Officer Climate and Environmental Policy Integration, catherine.pearce@eeb.org Tel: +447811283641

In Brussels:
John Hontelez, Secretary General EEB, john.hontelez@eeb.org Tel: +32 486512127
     
Simon Nazer, Press Officer, simon.nazer@eeb.org Tel: +32 2289 1309

Editors Notes:

The EEB is calling for:

•   Binding greenhouse gas reduction targets for Annex 1 countries – 25% to 40% below 1990 levels by 2020
•   EU to reflect their fair share and commit to 40%, with domestic reductions, i.e. no offsets
•   Climate finance from rich countries to support developing countries to adapt to climate change and to help stabilise their emissions
•   A contribution from Europe of at least € 35bn a year by 2020 to go directly to developing countries for mitigation and adaptation support. Financial support has to be new and additional to ODA commitments, predictable and binding. Management of such funds must be equitable and transparent with fair representation from developing countries.
•   Set in place the ‘fast start financing’ of €5-7 billion each year for 2010 - 2012, to be made available with immediate effect to the poorest countries to address their urgent adaptation needs.
•   Agreement to reduce emissions from deforestation and significant forest degradation that is not based upon a role or support from the carbon markets.
•   A new mechanism to facilitate international technology transfer – particularly to accelerate the use of green, sustainable and low carbon technologies in developing countries

For more details please read our media briefing.