Please log in to read this article:
Don't have a login yet?
Discover your benefits and register for free now! It only takes a minute.
|
|
|
Please log in to read this article:
Don't have a login yet?
Discover your benefits and register for free now! It only takes a minute.
Most viewed in Environment
Playing the EU's hand
The Copenhagen talks are dominated by the actions and intentions of China and the US, which together make up around half of all global emissions. But EU negotiators maintain that the EU has a valuable role to play.
Within the EU institutions there are different views on how to play the EU's hand. The European Commission and the Swedish presidency are keen to use the EU's pledge to cut emissions by 30% if others make similar efforts as a bargaining chip. Andreas Carlgren, Sweden's environment minister, has spoken of not under-selling the 30% target.
But MEPs want a swift promise to make 30% cuts. Satu Hassi, a Finnish Green MEP, said she was impatient for the EU to move to 30%. “The EU is repeating and repeating that others should move. I think the EU should move itself. This is the time to give our next offer...The more proactive the EU is, the more decisive a role it can play.”
Related articles
Climate negotiators could take a leaf out of the global postal sector's book.
Agreement in Durban on a roadmap to a future global treaty will see Europe continue a second period of binding emissions cuts, but Green groups say the deal is imprecise.
Connie Hedegaard's risk in Durban was redemption for the EU after its embarrassing failure at the UN climate summit in Copenhagen in 2009.
When the EU moves, others follow, writes the European Commissioner for climate action on the breakthrough deal struck at the Durban summit on climate change.
South Africa and Brazil are now prepared to sign up to a roadmap, but other major countries are holding out.
