Verbatim report of proceedings

Wednesday, 14 October 2015 - Brussels

Towards a new international climate agreement in Paris (debate)

  Miguel Arias Cañete, Member of the Commission.– Madam President, I would like to reiterate my thanks to Mr Pargneaux and all those who have collaborated on the delivery of this important report. I just want to make four points.

First of all, there is a lot of work ahead of us in the 50 days we have before Paris. We are not there yet. It is true that there are indices: at the moment, more than 150 countries have presented their indices. There is a high level of ambition but we are not within the two-degrees objective. Under a business-as-usual scenario, according to the IPCC assessment, the increase in world temperature would be in a range of 3.8 to 4.7 degrees. With all the 150 indices on the table, according to the Joint Research Centre estimates, we are at about three degrees.

A lot of work has to be done in Paris, and that means that Paris must produce an ambitious agreement with a dynamic process of review, including transparency and accountability, and with a clear long-term goal allowing us to take stock from time to time and raise the level of our ambition. Tackling and facing up to global warming is not a matter that we will solve at the Paris meeting, but in Paris we have to create the instruments for long-lasting action towards fighting global warming throughout the century. We have to achieve full decarbonisation of our economies before the end of the century, and that requires a lot of effort.

I want briefly to answer some remarks that Members made: Mr Eickhout, Mr Groote, Mr Gerbrandy, Mr Liese and Ms Guteland asked what will happen with maritime and navigation transport. The Commission considers that the international navigation and shipping sectors should also contribute to the global efforts for emissions reductions, because if we want a comprehensive and consistent agreement for below two degrees it must cover all sectors of the economy, including international transport. This should entail a mandate to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to deliver a concrete message on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from international aviation and shipping. Those emissions should also be subject to regular review so that the measures can be enhanced over time, in line with decarbonisation scenarios.

There was also a question to the Commission concerning our position on earmarking EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) allowances for international climate finance. ETS auction revenues are one of the many public revenue sources that Member States may use to mobilise climate finance, and the Commission proposal for the ETS revision actively encourages Member States to use ETS auction revenues to finance climate action.

Lastly, there was a question relating to fossil fuels. The Commission is in favour of phasing out fossil fuel subsidies, and in the G20 framework we supported the United States proposal for a target date of 2025.