The European Union reclaims leadership in climate action
[ added 12 March, 2010 ]
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The European Commission (EC) presented a new communication on climate change, urging for a swift implementation of the Copenhagen Accord. The EC wishes to integrate the Copenhagen Accord into the UN negotiations and to address some missing points such as the reduction of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) which are commonly used as refrigerants but are very potent greenhouse gases.
On 9 March 2010, Conny Hedegaard, new EU Commissioner for Climate Action presented before the European Parliament in Strasbourg the European Commission's new communication on post-Copenhagen international climate policy. After the discord and down backing at the climate summit in Copenhagen, the European Commission wants to retake leadership and get other countries on board for a proactive approach in Cancun (Mexico) at the end of this year. The European Commission believes that taking the lead in climate action will enable the EU to achieve the goals of the Europe 2020 Strategy which foresees 20% emissions reductions below 1990 levels by 2020 and eventual upscaling of these reductions to 30% if other major economies measure up.
The main points of the new European strategy on climate action evolve around the dressing of a negotiation roadmap in the up-run to COP16 in Cancun and COP17 in South Africa, the integration of the Copenhagen Accord into the UN texts, the swift allocation of the promised €2.4 billion in 'fast start' financial assistance to developing countries annually in 2010-2012, the advancing of the international carbon market which could drive low-carbon investments and the addressing of some loopholes such as the necessary reduction of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) which is neither regulated under the Kyoto Protocol nor mentioned in the Copenhagen Accord. However a serious climate treaty endeavouring to prevent global warming above 2°C would certainly need to regulate either drastic reduction or ideally complete phase-out of these very potent greenhouse gases commonly used as refrigerant in heating and cooling appliances.
In a recent interview with the financial times, Hedegaard had expressed doubts about the likelihood of arriving at a binding climate treaty in Mexico and even warned that too much pressure for achieving one, could discourage countries from participating at all. Nevertheless the European Commission urges for the Copenhagen Accord which has not been formally adopted as UN decision, to be integrated in the UN negotiating texts that serve as basis for elaborating a future global climate agreement, which could then be adopted one year later in South Africa.
But the time presses: the Kyoto Protocol is expiring in 2012 and scientists keep warning that instant climate action is needed to prevent global warming above 2°C. The common argument of China and India refusing to commit to binding emission targets cannot longer justify these hesitations in negotiation as both countries have now agreed on endorsing the Copenhagen Accord. True, this accord is based on voluntary targets of emissions reductions, still it is some form of commitment.
Postponing any concrete action year after year after year is like sitting back and watching the boat sink. Further delay in climate action is all the more unacceptable considering that technological possibilities to achieve considerable emissions reductions do exist and are already on the market. The HVAC&R sector, for instance, is a heavy emitter of greenhouse gases but could easily reduce its carbon footprint by switching to natural refrigerants such as CO2, ammonia and hydrocarbons instead of the damaging hydrofluorocarbons currently in use. These climate-friendly technologies just need the political endorsement to pull through. Maybe the focus on a specific sector with great emissions reductions potential can help set global climate action in motion.
More and more companies recognise that green growth is the way to go. Why not use this momentum and deliver a regulatory framework for the green economy to build on.
