MEPs to participate in COP22 climate change conference in Marrakesh
A twelve-strong delegation of MEPs will take part in UN (COP22) climate talks (COP22) in Marrakesh from Monday to Friday. Following the European Parliament’s ratification and the entry into force of the 2015 Paris agreement, these will focus on how to finance and share the efforts needed to keep climate warming well below 2 degrees compared to pre-industrial levels.
During their visit, MEPs will discuss issues with key negotiators and meet counterparts from other parliaments, as well as local and international NGO and industry representatives.
“In Marrakesh, we will have to work on the implementation of the Paris agreement. We helped to make it become binding, but it is evident that the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions currently on the table are not sufficient to achieve the objective of limiting climate change to well below 2 degrees”, said delegation Chair Giovanni La Via (EPP, IT).
“We shall also work to consolidate the trust between developed and developing countries. We must and we can hand over to future generations a world that is more stable and prosperous: a healthier and cleaner planet”, he added.
“The path chosen in Paris is irreversible”
"Marrakesh should send out the signal that the path chosen in Paris is irreversible”, said delegation vice-Chair Jo Leinen (S&D, DE). “The climate targets need to be achieved step by step in the coming years. The European Union must be an engaged player in this process and act as a broker between the partners of the North and the South", he said.
“The existing climate targets will not be sufficient to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius. Therefore, the EU needs to bring its climate policy into line with the Paris Agreement. This means, in particular, reducing CO2 emissions faster and being clear about financing climate protection”, he added.
Press conference and EP side event
Delegation chair Giovanni La Via will hold a joint press conference with EU Climate and Energy commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete on Wednesday, 16.30 (Marrakesh, GMT) 17.30 (Brussels, CET). The event will be webstreamed. The delegation will also hold a public “side event” with high-level panellists on aviation emissions and the International Civil Aviation Organization offsetting scheme in the context of the Paris agreement on Wednesday, at 14.30 GMT.
Key topics in Marrakesh
The Marrakesh negotiations will focus on how to implement the Paris Agreement, i.e. on agreeing specific rules and delivering on the commitments made. This concerns in particular support for developing countries, i.e. finance, technology development and transfer, and capacity-building.
Important topics with respect to negotiations include:
- enhanced action prior to 2020,
- contents of Nationally Determined Contributions,
- type of information to be contained in the adaptation communications,
- modalities and rules for cooperative mechanisms,
- modalities of the global stocktake and preparations for the facilitative dialogue in 2018, and
- the transparency framework.
Note to editors
Composition of delegation: Mr Giovanni LA VIA (EPP, IT) Chair, Mr Jo LEINEN (S&D, DE) vice-Chair, Mr Peter LIESE (EPP, DE), Mr Seán KELLY (EPP, IE), Ms Simona BONAFE (S&D, IT), Mr Dan NICA (S&D, RO), Ms Julie GIRLING (ECR, UK), Mr Gerben-Jan GERBRANDY (ALDE, NL), Ms Estefania TORRES MARTINEZ (GUE/NGL, ES), Mr Claude Turmes (Greens/EFA, LU), Mr Marco AFFRONTE (EFDD, IT), Ms Barbara KAPPEL (ENF, AT).
On 5 October 2016, the European Union and several Member States deposited their instrument of ratification. On that day, the thresholds of more than 55 Parties accounting for more than 55% of global emissions were exceeded, triggering the entry into force of the Paris Agreement 30 days later, on 4 November 2016.
Contacts:
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Baptiste CHATAIN
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Janez VOUK
Press Officer