EU-ministers spreken over klimaatverandering (en)

Minister for National Development, Tamás Fellegi, whose responsibilities include climate change matters, chaired the EU Environment Ministers’ informal meeting on climate change, on 26 March 2011. The participants of the meeting in Gödöllő, discussed the international climate change regime, and talked about the European Union’s Decarbonisation Roadmap 2050, during their business lunch.

The ministerial working sessions aimed to coordinate the European Union’s climate policy strategies and positions, with a view to preparing this year’s international negotiations on climate protection. During its term of EU Presidency, Hungary is responsible for coordinating the adoption of a common EU position and common thinking in major strategic matters; and for representing the European Union at international negotiations.

In respect of the measures following the Cancún climate conference, the ministers discussed three issues relating to the Council’s conclusions, adopted on 14 March 2011:

 The desirable time frame for the development of the EU’s climate regime, which includes all major emitters

 The possible costs and benefits of accepting the second-term commitments under the Kyoto Protocol, and the impacts of such decision on the EU’s position at international negotiations; and on the carbon market in the short and medium term

 Approaches and measures to secure the continuity of the Kyoto flexibility mechanisms, and the un-disturbed operation of the carbon market.

Discussing the above issues, the ministers confirmed the urgent need for a comprehensive legal framework, to promote an efficient fight against climate change after 2012. The ministers declared that the EU remains open to the second-term commitment of the Kyoto Protocol, and considered that last December’s sessions in Cancún, brought participants closer to the goals. Member States concurred on the need to assess the possible consequences of a failure to agree, on the post-2012 climate regime.

During the business lunch, after the session, the participants discussed the EU’s Decarbonisation Roadmap 2050, to promote the negotiations on the EU’s long-term strategy. As known, the Commission adopted its decarbonisation roadmap on 8 March 2011, which was designed to identify a cost-efficient roadmap, in a set of possible methods for long-term carbon reduction; and subsequent reduction routes. In connection with the roadmap, the ministers discussed milestones to achieve long-term reduction. They emphasised that decarbonisation is a step required for enhancing the EU’s competitiveness and energy security, including a great job creation potential, in compliance with the aims of the EU 2020 Strategy.

Document: ENVI-2011.03.26-pressrelease.pdf