GREEN EYE ON THE EU’S CLIMATE EFFORT
– France drops carbon tax plans in anticipation of EU proposal
– EU takes stock of climate policy in Copenhagen aftermath
– Fresh concerns raised about emissions trading scheme
– Controversy continues over EU biofuels policy
ROUND-UP – CLIMATE NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
– Continuation of Kyoto Protocol back on the agenda, as Copenhagen Accord gets more support
– Key meetings planned to revive international climate talks
– Candidates emerge for top UN climate post
WHAT’S ON
– Greens/EFA conference on climate change in Bonn 29/30 April – http://bit.ly/aIguyX
including UN climate chief Yvo de Boer and former EU commissioner Stavros Dimas
– Calendar of some key events this month and next month
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GREEN EYE ON THE EU’S CLIMATE EFFORT
The French government announced it would be dropping a planned carbon tax and would instead focus on its push for an EU-wide carbon tax. The concept of a carbon tax has re-emerged on the EU agenda and the European Commission could table a proposal in April, according to news reports.
EU takes stock of climate policy in Copenhagen aftermath
EU environment ministers failed to come up with new ideas when they met on 15 March to assess EU climate policy in the aftermath of the UN climate summit in Copenhagen. The key question of stepping up the EU emissions target to a 30% reduction by 2020 was deferred, with the Commission asked to research such a move. The Greens/EFA group launched a new study the same day on the feasibility and positive impact of stepping up the target. (see press release)
EU leaders more or less endorsed the ‘conclusions’ of their environment ministers when they met on 25/26 March, although the controversy on fast-start climate financing remained an issue. (see our blog)
Earlier in the month, the EU Commission presented its proposed strategy for EU climate policy post-Copenhagen. The strategy sees 2011 as a more likely date for concluding a UN climate deal and calls for the Commission to be given a stronger role in the negotiations. It also outlines the need for the EU to resolve its position on stepping up its emissions targets, as well as issues like hot air and accounting rules for forestry emissions. (see our blog and press release)
Fresh concerns were raised about the EU emissions trading scheme (ETS) after it was revealed that the Hungarian government agreed to ‘resell’ surrendered external emissions permits (CERs). In response, the Commission suspended the possibility to surrender CERs, with new rules due to enter into force in August (see Commission page). A new study also revealed the extent of offsetting under the ETS.
The fresh controversy followed on from the publication of new research showing that firms are hoarding emissions permits for the 2013-20 period of the ETS. This could lead to the generation of huge windfall profits for polluting firms and undermine the EU’s climate policies.
Controversy continues over EU biofuels policy
The EU biofuels target could damage the environment, according to research conducted for the EU Commission, which it finally released. The release follows a legal action launched by environmental NGOs, trying to force the Commission to release all its research on the full environmental impacts of biofuels and EU rules.
ROUND-UP – CLIMATE NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
Continuation of Kyoto Protocol back on the agenda, as Copenhagen Accord gets more support
The question of whether the Kyoto Protocol should be continued beyond 2013 was put back on the agenda by the Chinese climate change negotiator on a visit to Europe. He urged the EU to commit to the Kyoto Protocol beyond its current phase. This prompted the UK government to indicate its openness to a continuation of Kyoto, however, the European Commission remained sceptical about the prospect of two separate climate treaties.
Ahead of renewed UN climate talks in April, India and China both formally confirmed their association with the Copenhagen Accord. According to the UNFCCC, over 110 countries have now signed up to the accord but the emissions pledges remain insufficient to limit warming to below 2°C.
Key meetings planned to revive international climate talks
International climate diplomacy will get back to business over the coming month. A preliminary meeting of the UNFCCC will take place in Bonn (9-11 April). There will also be a number of other fora seeking to breathe life back into the climate talks in the aftermath of Copenhagen.
Germany will host a high-level meeting of environment ministers from around the world, together with this year’s COP16 chair Mexico, from 2-4 May in Bonn. The aim of Peterberg Climate Dialogue is to determine the agenda for UN climate talks ahead of this year’s COP16 in Mexico. Bolivia is hosting an alternative ‘people’s conference’ on climate change from 20-22 April. Meanwhile, the Major Economies Forum is also expected to meet in April with climate change high on the agenda.
Candidates emerge for top UN climate post
Candidates have begun to emerge to succeed Yvo de Boer as executive secretary of the UNFCCC from July onwards. The successor expected to come from a developing country and candidates have so far been proposed from Costa Rica, India, South Africa and Indonesia.