Behind

EU summit last week passed the “Kyoto Protocol” a positive attitude. According to Xinhua, “said a statement issued after the meeting, the EU is willing to consider starting from 2013 the” Kyoto Protocol “second commitment period. This is the first time the EU made it clear that on the” Kyoto Protocol “negotiating position.”

Need to make two comments on this story:

First, the statement confirmed that the EU “reiterated to consider the” Kyoto Protocol “will of the second commitment period,” provided that all the major economies have been integrated into a comprehensive international climate agreement, but the conditions must be met. Obviously, this means one is not a member of the “Kyoto Protocol” of the United States, the second is to join the “Kyoto Protocol” but not included in the mandatory emission reduction in China, India, Brazil and other large developing countries.

Second, this is not the first time that the EU position. In September 2009 prior to the caliber of the European Union negotiators also been a “continued after 2012 the” Kyoto Protocol “,” just prior to the meeting from Copenhagen suddenly change course and follow the United States questioned the “Kyoto Protocol.” Copenhagen, the EU began to re-set the tone. Tianjin in October this year, the climate negotiations, the EU has formally said he “consider” the “Kyoto Protocol” second commitment period. The EU summit merely reiterated the position of the EU negotiating team. Of course, the higher the level of the summit, so it is meaningful.

“Kyoto Protocol” is currently in the “United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,” the only legally binding under the comprehensive agreement. It provides for developed countries by 2012 greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, this time also known as the “first commitment period.” After 2012, the first commitment period expires, there is currently a focus of climate negotiations is the developed countries in the “Kyoto Protocol” second commitment period (2012) continued reduction of the problem. This is the entire international community to address climate change core of the system. However, the U.S. and other developed countries to resist this, challenge, and the EU’s attitude has been ambiguous, swing.

Previously, circulating widely, “the” Kyoto Protocol “will expire in 2012″ argument. “Expired say” not true, but widespread in the media sector. I do not blame the media did not do their homework, but because some of negotiating teams and organizations to continue to spread the “date said,” and other phrases. Accurate statement should be: “Kyoto Protocol” first commitment period expires in 2012.

Thus, while the EU’s position has various conditions attached, and nothing new, it is still welcome. This means support the “Kyoto Protocol” re-occupied the vast majority of power, including more than 140 developing countries and the EU-27. The opposition left the United States, Japan, Australia and other 10 or so countries, to some extent into isolation. It also means that the “second commitment period” concept has spread through the EU, but also help the media correction “expired” and etc error formulation.

EU move is aimed at long-term strategy. Clean development, sustainable development has been included in the EU’s strategic orbit. The European Commission released in March this year, “European Strategy 2020″ confirmed “20-20-20″ climate / energy target (ie: 2020 EU greenhouse gas emissions in 1990 on the basis of at least 20%; 2020 renewable clean energy, increase the proportion of total energy consumption to 20%; the coal, oil, natural gas and other one-time energy consumption by 20%). Specific objectives include: shift to low carbon economy, increase renewable energy use, implementation of modern transportation, increasing energy efficiency, the ultimate goal is to make economic growth and resource consumption “decoupling.”

In order to achieve its low-carbon development strategies, the EU implemented a variety of policy instruments, the most important thing is the European carbon market. “Kyoto Protocol” came into effect, the total global carbon market the way the plate rose from $ 700,000,000 in 2009 to 144 billion U.S. dollars, of which the major share of the EU. In 2009, the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS) of the trading volume of 118.5 billion U.S. dollars. Taking into account the financial crisis in 2009, under the shadow price of carbon remains in the doldrums, the future potential of price and volume gains there. How big the plate is an important consideration in EU decision-makers.

Climate negotiations, in essence, is political – economic interests of the dispute. In this sense, the EU’s climate policy is also in negotiations for the carbon market open. Because of the higher emission reduction targets, the greater the carbon market will be the plate. During the climate talks in Tianjin, the EU specifically stressed that support the “Kyoto Protocol” and “subsidiary mechanism” – implies that the support of three flexible compliance mechanisms as the main representative of the carbon market. In addition, the EU has to try to force developing countries to increase and even to accept mandatory emissions reductions, which is conducive to the European Union to sell their excess carbon advanced and relevant technologies.

So, low-carbon political, low-carbon and carbon finance industry composed of three EU’s “policy mix of boxing,” supporting each other in order to implement the overall strategy of the European Union in 2020. Overall, this will help the EU to maintain its position in climate politics, the objective is also conducive to the cause of climate change.

However, it remains among the three doubts:

First, the EU supports the “Kyoto Protocol” is conditional, and other countries, including China and India be included in international agreements. If “be included in” refers to mandatory emission reductions, which do not meet the “Kyoto Protocol” requirement, does not meet the “common but differentiated responsibilities” principle, India and other countries does not conform to current national conditions and national interests. Clearly, the future climate negotiations will be highly variable, so the EU can continue to support the “Kyoto Protocol” is also in doubt.

Secondly, the EU’s emission reduction measures rely on the efforts of what is local, or by others? Recently, the European think tank “Policy Exchange” according to a report, the European Union emissions of imported goods in 1990 included an increase of 40%. In other words, the EU’s “emissions” is by its trading partners (China is one of them) the “increasing row” to achieve. While another report showed that one-third of carbon emissions in China for the production of export products. So, it can be said that the EU is in the “output of carbon emissions”?

Third, the EU’s emission reduction of water in the end be? It now appears that part of the EU emissions by “hot air” (AAU), the drastic changes in Eastern Europe after the economic downturn to achieve emission reductions. These countries can fulfill their emission reduction targets effortlessly, but also the surplus, the surplus can be sold to other countries (such as Western Europe) red offset emissions.

Tags: Attitude, Behind, European, Positive, Union

Friday, January 21st, 2011 Grants No Comments