The EU‘s post 2012 Climate Change strategy - Presentation Transcript
The EU‘s post 2012 Climate Change strategy Towards a comprehensive climate change agreement in Copenhagen Thomas Bernheim, DG Environment European Commission
Mo-Magazine, 22 April 2009 Zuiderpershuis Antwerpen
The global scientific consensus
IPCC Fourth Assessment Report (2007):
Global temperature is rising: +0.76°C (1.37°F) since 1850 (+1°C in Europe) and the rate is accelerating
>90% certainty man-made GHG caused most of this rise
Rate of sea level rise has doubled in recent decades
If we take no action average global warming will increase further by between 1.1° and 6.4°C this century
best estimate +1.8-4.0°C (3.2°-7.2°F)
regional rises could be much greater (e.g. Arctic +6°- 8°C)
Good news! Deep cuts in global emissions can be achieved at relatively low cost using existing technologies and those in pipeline
A global pathway to stay below 2°C Global Peak by 2020 Global -50% by 2050 rel. 1990 Developed Countries to cut by 80-95% by 2050 rel. 1990 Recent Science ?
Why 2 ° C? Getting into the danger zone
Delay has serious impacts
To achieve same long-term emission level requires steeper future reductions: 4% vs. 2.6%/yr in 2030-2050
Adds to cumulative emissions increased risk of surpassing critical thresholds
Leads to further carbon lock-in more costly transition to low-carbon future
Call on all developed countries to commit to ambitious cuts by 2020 to avoid unrealistic pathways
To achieve the same stabilisation goal : reduction rate doubles for every 10 years of delay
DC need to participate over time ... If Annex I alone reduces emissions to zero ... Global emission path compatible with 2°C
EU vision for Copenhagen: targets and actions
Targets and actions :
Leadership by all developed countries:
-30% emissions by 2020 with comparable national efforts based on set of agreed criteria
Financial & technical support for mitigation and adaptation in DC
For developing countries:
Emissions growth 15-30% below business as usual by 2020
Draw up low-carbon development strategies (LCDS) covering key sectors as vehicle to identify needs for support from Annex I
Say what can be done autonomously
What actions require further support
What actions can be undertaken by he global carbon market
EU’s vision for Copenhagen: reductions are affordable but carbon markets key to cost-efficiency
GDP effect for group in developed countries around 1% decrease in 2020
Baseline GDP grows by more than 40% between 2005 and 2020 (incl. economic crisis)
Source: European Commission 39 bn € 81 bn € 166 bn € Total incremental costs in developed countries in 2020 (2005 prices) 22 € 43 € 72 € Carbon price per tonne CO 2 in developed countries ETS, 2020 Perfect global carbon market Gradual global carbon market No global carbon market 30% Annex I reduction below 1990 by 2020
EU’s vision for Copenhagen: Towards comparable QELROs
30% below 1990 levels by 2020 by Annex I on average and including domestic and international efforts
Country B
Comparability of QELROs based on balanced set of criteria, such as:
Capability to pay (domestic and abroad)
Mitigation potential
Early action to reduce emissions
Population trends and total GHG emissions
Long-term: towards a gradual convergence of per capita emissions among developed and developing countries
2020 Average Country A
Leading through example: The climate and energy package
March 2007 EU summit
Commitments
Unconditional commitment to cut GHG emissions by at least 20% in any case and 20% of energy from renewable sources (8.5% today)
Conditional commitment to reduce GHG emissions to 30% below 1990 levels if other developed countries make comparable cuts
Further objectives
20% cut in projected energy use through energy efficiency improvements
10% renewables share in transport fuels (1% today)
Deforestation: halt within two decades and then reverse
Good for the climate, energy security, innovation, jobs and competitiveness!
The climate and energy package at a glance large industrial installations & aviation Carbon capture and storage Directive CO2&cars Renewable Energy Directive Fuel Quality Directive -20% / 30% technology specific & product policies cross-sectoral targets & instruments “ small emitters” EU ETS Effort Sharing Decision
Climate and energy package: Approach
Cost-effectiveness and fair distribution
Fairness : differentiate efforts for Member States according to GDP/capita
national targets in sectors outside EU ETS
national renewables targets
redistribution of auctioning rights
Cost-effectiveness: introduce flexibility
EU ETS
Guarantee of Origin trading for renewable energy
Overall architecture GHG Target by 2020: -20% compared to 1990 -14% compared to 2005 EU ETS -21% compared to 2005 Non ETS sectors -10% compared to 2005 27 Member State targets, stretching from -20% to +20%
EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) Some basics
Cap-and-trade system – reduces emissions at least cost
Started in 2005
World’s largest ‘cap-and-trade system’
Large industrial emitters and power plants
Reduce or buy allowances
Cap gives environmental outcome
Trading periods: 2005-7, 2008-12, 2013-20, …
Annual compliance cycle with monitoring, reporting, verification, surrender
Penalties for non-compliance
Major source of demand for Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), thus channelling investment to DC
Strengthening EU ETS from 2013 (third phase)
Limited expansion to further sectors and gases
Aviation included as from 2012
Single EU-wide cap on emissions replaces national caps
Cap cut in linear fashion annually (-1.74%) until at least 2025. This gives investors predictability
By 2020 cap will be 21% below 2005
Much greater harmonisation of rules creates ‘level playing field’ across EU
Auctioning becomes default allocation method for allowances:
At least 50% auctioning from 2013, 100% by 2027
Offsets (JI/CDM) :
Supplementarity maintained: 50% of reduction effort
Quality: comitology to provide a harmonised approach
Effort sharing outside EU ETS: Differentiated national targets for 2020
Principle of solidarity and growth
National emission reduction targets determined as a function of GDP/capita
MS with high GDP/capita to reduce emissions (in relation to 2005 emissions)
MS with low GDP/capita may increase emissions
But:
No reduction of more than 20%
No increase of more than 20%
Effort sharing outside EU ETS: National targets for 2020
Effort sharing outside EU ETS: Linear reduction pathway… with flexibility for compliance
Binding linear reduction pathway for each Member State
Early overachievements in emission reductions can be banked
Up to 5% can be borrowed from the year ahead
Transfers of emission rights between MS
ex post
ex ante : limited to 5%
CDM credits
3% of 2005 emissions each year (4% for 12 MS)
Credits not used can be banked
What happens after Copenhagen agreement?
Three months following Community signature, Commission will submit a report
If appropriate, proposal will be made covering among others
Tightening of the targets
Increased access to offset credits, but: restricted to ratifying countries
Review of free allocation rules under EU ETS
…
Final remarks
Agreed EU legislation
Will deliver on the objectives set by the European Council (-20/-30%)
Facilitates transition to the low-carbon economy of the future
Confirms EU leadership and dedication to fighting climate change
Frame ambitious domestic and international climate policy as :
Good economic policy , since it avoids catastrophic damages (Stern)
Good energy policy , since savings from fuel cost will pay back large part of necessary investment, increased energy security (IEA)
Good development policy since 2 degrees and adaptation are necessary to provide for poor developing countries to develop
Good security policy , since avoiding dangerous CC helps to avoid triggering of regional security implications
Next steps
Domestic :
Implement climate & energy package through comitology (e.g. auction design, setting benchmarks, determining sectors at risk of carbon leakage, etc…)
Internationally:
Aim for comparability of targets of developed countries
Aim for nationally appropriate mitigation action by DC
Agree on funding for DC , including technology and adaptation
Global Carbon Markets : develop linking + CDM reform
Submit to the UNFCCC secretariat additional texts as input to negotiating texts to be prepared by the Chairs
Outreach to key developed and developing countries to discuss and develop those proposals ahead of next Bonn meeting
0 comments
Post a comment