November 3, 2009
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EU finding its way towards Copenhagen
Climate change, economic and financial situation and immigration were the major issues of discussion at the last European Council (Brussels, 29/30 October 2009).
Just a few weeks ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference to be held in Copenhagen in December, the EU has stated its full determination “to play a leading role and contribute to reaching a global, ambitious and comprehensive agreement”. 
Amongst the others, the EU has confirmed its commitments to: engage in emissions reduction of at least 50 % and of 80-90 % as aggregate developed country reductions, re-propose a framework for action on adaptation, promote technology cooperation and R&D, support a deal on financing that include an increase of both public and private flows. The meeting also reaffirmed the need for developing countries to commit to appropriate mitigation action. The conclusions document call both developing and developed nations for a greater responsibility to take immediate action.
Given the results of the Presidency meeting and the determination to undertake a leadership role in the climate process, it is worth wondering:
- What kind of leadership role is the EU referring to? Is the EU willing to play the role of mediator between diverging interests of developing and developed countries, or rather is it going to be the leading party defining the agenda?
- Secondly, have internal divergences within Europe been solved? In other words, is it Europe ready to speak with one voice on climate change?
No doubt that the most delicate issue remains the deal on funding.
A compromise deal was discussed during the meeting in which the bloc has agreed that industrialised countries should commit between €22 billion and €50 billion a year for climate adaptation and carbon emissions mitigation in the third world. Source: EuObserver
What share of this global amount should come from Europe’s public money remains unspecified. In other words, the European Union remains vague on its financial offer before the UN climate talks.
Also, the funding issue is generating some sort of tensions among member states. Eastern European members are worried that their funding share may be calculated on the basis of their carbon emissions (instead of wealth level). Since they are heavily dependent on coal, their ability to pay would be in fact compromised.
On the other hand, this is in contrast with the interest of some developing countries, which would rather prefer a ‘per capita’ than a ‘per country’ calculation of carbon emissions.
Not a good start for the EU that can be blamed of double standards in any case, either internally or externally, with the possible results of seeing its position undermined as leading player in the negotiations.
Download the EU Presidency Conclusions
Photo Credit: oedipusphinx
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