Press release
02 November 2009
Ministry of the Environment
"Other developed countries should also demonstrate their leadership"
Today Minister for the Environment, Andreas Carlgren, spoke at a press conference in the framework of the UNFCCC meeting in Barcelona.
- We have 34 days and 19 hours until Copenhagen and the EU expects a comprehensive and ambitious agreement. It should cover all elements, such as mitigation, adaptation, financing, technology transfer, and good governance, Minister Carlgren said.
- The European Union is more than ever fully determined to reach such a deal. Failure is just not an option. Other developed countries should also demonstrate their leadership and commit to ambitious emission reductions and step up their current pledges, Carlgren stressed.
- The EU is firmly committed to the Kyoto Protocol. We have taken our obligations seriously and will meet our targets. We want an internationally binding agreement that builds on the Kyoto Protocol. We want all developed countries to commit to internationally binding, quantified, emission limitation reduction commitments. And all countries should take immediate action, Carlgren said.
At the recent EU Environment Council and EU-summit, member states have agreed to an objective of emission reductions for 2050 of 80-95 percent compared to 1990. EU call upon other developed countries to adopt long term targets in line with this level of ambition.
The EU urges developed country parties to step up their current pledges for mid-term goals in line with science. They should commit to reductions in the order of 30 percent below 1990 by 2020.
- All sectors need to be part of the future regime. We want the aviation sector to reduce emissions by 10 percent, and the maritime sector by 20 percent in 2020 compared to 2005 levels Carlgren said.
The EU has estimated the total net incremental cost of mitigation and adaptation in developing countries could amount to around EUR 100 billion annually by 2020. The international public support component of that is estimated to lie in the range of 22 to 50 billion per year by 2020.
EU stresses that such financing should not undermine or jeopardize the fight against poverty and continued progress towards the Millennium Development Goals. Innovative financing can play a role in ensuring predictable flows of financing for sustainable development, especially towards the poorest and most vulnerable countries.
EU leaders has recognized that fast-start financing will be required already pre-2013. Global financing of EUR 5-7 billion per year will be needed for the first three years following an ambitious agreement in Copenhagen.
- Adequate, predictable and timely financial support of a Copenhagen agreement is crucial and the EU is prepared to take on its fair share. The global distribution key should be based on emission levels and on GDP, reflecting both responsibility for global emissions and ability to pay, with a considerable weight on emission levels, Carlgren concluded.
Contact
Lennart BodénPress Secretary to Andreas Carlgren
