Hongaars EU-voorzitterschap: momentum behouden in onderhandelingen over aanpak klimaatverandering (en)
Once again, the EU took the lead in climate negotiations, while Hungary successfully coordinates the adoption of Member States’ common position, said Péter Olajos, Deputy Secretary of State for Green Economy and Climate Affairs of the Ministry for National Development to eu2011.hu. The next session of the UN Climate Change Conference is held on 6-17 June in Bonn, Germany, where the EU will be represented by the Commission and the Hungarian Presidency.
In January, Minister for National Development Tamás Fellegi said at his hearing in the European Parliament that significant progress should be made in creating an ambitious, legally-binding and accountable global agreement on climate protection. What results have been achieved so far?
It is a significant step that the EU has once again taken the lead in climate negotiations, and assumed the role of a catalyst. In March, the Commission issued its proposal for a “De-carbonization Roadmap” for moving to a competitive low carbon economy by 2050. We have thoroughly discussed this proposal with Member States, and hope to achieve the appropriate political support for the roadmap by the end of the Hungarian Presidency’s term, at the Environment Council’s meeting on 21 June. This ambitious plan could play a significant role in prompting other countries to undertake similarly future-oriented projects in the framework of the UN international climate change conferences, especially in the Durban conferencein December 2011.
The next session of the UN Climate Change Conference is held on 6-17 June in Bonn. The EU will be represented by the Commission and the Hungarian Presidency. What is the aim of this conference?
At the next round of climate change negotiations in Bonn, several thousands of experts will work day and night - even at weekends and on the day of Pentecost - to prepare the technical details of a potential agreement in Durban. In addition to restricting emissions, the enormous significance of this intensive work, which might seem too meticulous to some, lies with the fact that it may decide how the 21st century’s social and economic order will look like, and how sustainable it will be.
When would the Bonn session be considered successful?
If we manage to keep the momentum going, without any backtracks. Until the Durban conference, we must approximate positions on how to adjust to climate change, on the emission reduction goals and their comparability, as well as on the transparent financing of the measures. It is also important to make progress in identifying ways to help developing countries avoid the negative effects of climate change, through passing them our technologies and knowledge.
The EU expressed its willingness to cut its carbon emission by over 20% by 2020, compared to 1990, provided that other countries commit themselves to similar objectives. Therefore, it is central how other major emitting countries, especially the US and China, will respond to this appeal. What are the chances of an agreement with these countries?
The EU has repeatedly confirmed its willingness to accept further restrictions, but with certain conditions. The European Union is on the track of achieving better-than-expected results anyway, which means that we will probably over-fulfil previous promises. Beyond the importance of the commitment itself, China’s considerable undertaking also has an extra effect: Beijing could be instrumental in persuading developing countries. China has recently adopted its new five-year plan, with green, sustainable growth in the centre. This is indeed promising and ambitious, like the EU’s plans.
Naturally, the involvement of the United States in international climate protection cooperation is also essential, as the country is among the biggest emitters. We have to admit that until the Presidential elections at the end of next year, our scope of action is but limited. But the US attitude towards the question is now positive and constructive, which is an indisputable step forward.
We can be hopeful that after the US Presidential elections and the 2013 revision of the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change, we will manage to adopt a global, comprehensive climate convention by 2015.
What role could the Hungarian Presidency play in climate protection, and what results could be achieved during the Presidency term?
Hungaryhas the privilege to represent the EU in an exciting period. The long stalling Cancún talks finally reached a breakthrough, and it furnished the Hungarian Presidency with much more work than what had been possible to anticipate. Our primary duty is to preserve the constructive atmosphere of the Cancún conference.
We can safely say that the Hungarian Presidency conducts successful talks with Member States, and helps them adopt a common position. We play the role of the coordinator: while doing the “homework” we were given at Cancún, we have assisted in developing more than twenty common positions.
Apart from the official Council meeting, we have organised an informal Ministerial meeting, where we exchanged views on the common position to be taken at international climate protection conferences. International conferences continued in April, in Bangkok, where the EU was jointly represented by the Hungarian Presidency and the Commission, which will be the case in Bonn as well.
It is a great honour for us that it is during the term of the Hungarian Presidency that the EU chose to make radical progress in creating a low carbon economy, and that we can participate in securing the necessary political support. In July, the Polish Presidency will take over our coordination work, while our experts will draw up the Hungarian de-carbonization strategy for 2050.