Climate change talks: MEPs chart the course from Lima to Paris

Talks to be held in Lima next month should enable global partners to reach an ambitious climate agreement in Paris in 2015, so as to keep the world on track for a sub-2°C climate warming scenario, Parliament said in a resolution voted on Wednesday. MEPs reiterated the pledge by the EU and its member states to step up contributions to the UN Green Climate Fund.

"We'll be facing a significant political challenge in Lima: to convince all stakeholders that we need to invest in climate policy, in order to save the environment, create jobs and develop sustainable technologies. This requires stepping up our efforts within the international community. (...) The recent agreement between the US and China are a step in the right direction, but this is only a beginning", said Environment Committee chair Giovanni La Via i (S&D, IT), who will lead the EP delegation to Lima next month.

MEPs call for binding 2030 targets for emission reduction, energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources, except socially and environmentally harmful biofuels, in line with the EU’s commitment to reduce its GHG emissions to 80%-95 % below 1990 levels by 2050.

Set key goals ahead of the Paris conference

MEPs see the 1-12 December Lima conference as an opportunity to set key goals for an international agreement to be reached in Paris (COP 21) in December 2015, including clear steps for mitigation, adaptation and an implementation strategy to meet the goal of phasing out greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. An ambitious and legally binding international agreement would help to address the carbon leakage and competitiveness concerns of the relevant sectors, in particular the energy-intensive sector, they say.

Step up EU contribution

MEPs recall the commitment made by the EU and its member states to step up funding for climate measures by capitalising the UN’s Green Climate Fund and jointly mobilise USD 100 billion per year by 2020, as part of their contribution to the December 2009 UN Copenhagen Accord. MEPs call on other donors to do likewise, so as to mobilise more funding for climate measures. They also note that the EU is on track to achieve emissions reductions well beyond the current 20% target, and reiterate its readiness to increase its emissions reduction target to 30% by 2020 if other major emitting countries commit to comparable reduction targets.

Help developing countries to adapt

MEPs stress that agreements on funding climate measures, technology transfer and capacity building will be essential to help developing countries, which contribute the least to greenhouse gas emissions, but suffer the most from their effects. They urge member states to use part of the revenues raised through carbon markets for climate financing and aid in developing countries.

MEPs reiterate that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) must achieve satisfactory and timely results to reduce GHG emissions from ships and planes. They also reiterate the call to earmark carbon-tax revenues for financing international climate measures. .