P6_TA(2005)0005

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

European Parliament resolution on the outcome of the Buenos Aires Conference on climate change

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) of 11 December 1997, the application procedures for its implementation adopted at the conferences in Bonn (July 2001), Marrakesh (November 2001), New Delhi (November 2002) and Milan (December 2003), and the Tenth Conference of the Parties (COP-10) in Buenos Aires, Argentina, between 6 and 17 December 2004,

- having regard to its resolutions relating to climate change, notably that of 17 November 2004 on the European Union strategy for the Buenos Aires Conference (COP-10) [1],

- having regard to Rule 103(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas climate change is one of the major challenges of the 21st century, having significant negative global environmental, economic and social consequences, and is expected to impinge negatively on sustainable development and the livelihoods of millions of people all over the world; whereas in 2004 again, hurricanes, typhoons and other weather-related natural disasters hit populations hard throughout the world and notably in the poorest countries; whereas, besides the human suffering and the numerous casualties, the economic losses are estimated at a record level of USD 90 billion for 2004,

B. whereas full implementation of the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol is of fundamental importance in tackling the key problem of climate change and for the future of the world's environment,

C. whereas the UNFCCC sets out a framework for action aimed at stabilising atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases in order to avoid "dangerous anthropogenic interference" with the climate system; whereas the UNFCCC entered into force on 21 March 1994, and now has 189 parties,

D. whereas to date 132 countries and regional economic integration organisations have ratified the Kyoto Protocol, including 37 Annex I parties, representing 61,6 % of 1990 Annex I greenhouse gas emissions, thereby meeting the requirements for entry into force of the Protocol, which will take place on 16 February 2005,

E. whereas developed countries have a major responsibility for greenhouse gas emissions and should therefore play a leading role in the process to reduce emissions; whereas the European Parliament has consistently called for the EU to maintain such a leading role,

F. whereas the Kyoto Protocol was ratified by the European Community on 31 May 2002 as well as by its Member States and whereas the European Parliament and the Council adopted the legislative instruments [2] necessary to implement the Kyoto Protocol provisions within the European Community; whereas on 13 October 2003 the European Parliament and the Council adopted Directive 2003/87/EC establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community [3]; whereas a recent Commission progress report (COM(2004)0818) confirms that the EU as a whole is on track to meet its target under the Kyoto Protocol,

G. whereas the objectives of the Kyoto Protocol are an essential condition for a global strategy on climate change, but further targets need to be set for the period after 2012; whereas global emissions should be reduced by half by 2050 in order to contain global warming so that it peaks below 2 °C above preindustrialisation levels,

H. whereas the year 2012 is approaching very soon, and a strategy beyond 2012 is needed to address the longer-term challenge to promote low-carbon energy sources, low greenhouse-gas-emitting technologies and renewable energy,

1. Welcomes the international agreement on decisions taken at the Tenth Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC, including the Buenos Aires Programme of Work on Adaptation and Response Measures and the decision to start a dialogue on future responses to climate change under the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol in May 2005;

2. Strongly believes that the European Union should retain its leading role in international efforts to fight climate change; expects the EU, therefore, to present a proposal for a future regime to the Seminar of Governmental Experts which is consistent with the EU objective of maintaining the average global temperature increase below 2 °C above pre-industrialisation levels, with global greenhouse emissions peaking within the next two decades, and which respects the principles of equity, responsibility and ability or capacity to act;

3. Notes the necessity of significantly enhanced reduction efforts by all developed countries in the medium term to be able to meet the long-term emission reduction challenge; calls on the EU to adopt reduction targets at the 2005 Spring European Council which are in line with the objectives mentioned above; believes that, for industrialised countries, medium-term reductions of the order of 30 % by 2020 and long-term reductions of 60-80 % by 2050 are necessary to achieve that goal;

4. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to step up efforts to engage in a dialogue with responsible countries around the world to sketch out a sustainable solution to prevent dangerous climate change; condemns the attempts of some countries to obstruct the starting of negotiations on climate policy commitments beyond 2012; regrets the repeated statements by the Italian Minister for the Environment that it would be pointless to set binding objectives for reducing emissions after 2012 without the participation of the United States, China and India; considers that these statements could weaken the EU's position;

5. Calls on the countries that have not ratified the Kyoto Protocol to do so as soon as possible; calls on the US Government to reconsider its decision not to participate and, as a first step, to respect its commitment under the UNFCCC to reduce the country's emissions to the 1990 level; further underlines that ratifying and using the Protocol mechanisms would make meeting Kyoto Protocol targets more economical for Australia;

6. Urges the EU to take further measures to increase energy savings, improve energy efficiency and switch to renewable energy sources;

7. Is concerned that progress in emission reductions in other sectors may be jeopardised by rising transport emissions; believes that the EU could learn from California how to limit transport emissions; calls, therefore, on the Commission urgently to put forward proposals for binding CO2 limits for new vehicles;

8. Reiterates its demand that emissions from international flights and shipping should be incorporated in the emission reduction targets for the second commitment period from 2012;

9. Is disappointed that the Tenth Conference of Parties was a missed opportunity as regards the preparation of further objectives for the period beyond 2012; regrets, in particular, that despite the efforts of the EU delegation, the Conference only agreed on one informal meeting for the preparation of future new goals in 2005; insists that the EU should carefully prepare its participation in this meeting, in close cooperation with all interested parties at national or regional level, maintaining a leading role in building up a strong coalition for further international commitments beyond 2012; stresses the necessity to give economic decision-makers the opportunity to plan in reasonably certain knowledge of the situation after 2012;

10. Insists that the Seminar of Governmental Experts has to focus on future-based discussions of the Kyoto Protocol within the framework of the UNFCCC to develop effective and appropriate responses to climate change and publish a written report on the results, which should feed back into the negotiations;

11. Believes that a future regime should be based on common but differentiated responsibilities, on continued and greater emission reductions post-2012, and the involvement of more countries in the reduction effort, notably the US and more advanced developing countries; therefore urges the Commission and the Member States to stress the necessity of climate protection when holding dialogues with international partners, specially the US, China and India;

12. Insists on the need for increased financial assistance for adjustment measures in developing countries; moreover stresses that while economic development is a right for all developing countries, measures should be taken to encourage more environmentally friendly models of development;

13. Regrets that, although represented at the Tenth Conference of Parties, the US — the largest CO2 emitter — was not prepared to discuss further developments to reduce climate change; is greatly encouraged by the many climate change initiatives being taken at State level in the US such as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative covering nine north-eastern states, while Maryland, the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, the Eastern Canadian Provinces and New Brunswick are observers in the process, where the aim of the initiative is to discuss the design of a regional cap-and-trade programme covering CO2;

14. Calls on the Commission to consider in its forthcoming report on the costs and benefits of future climate change policies the adoption of border adjustment measures to offset any competitive advantage which producers in industrialised countries without carbon constraints might have; underlines that addressing climate change also brings opportunities and incentives for innovation in line with goals set by the Lisbon Agenda;

15. Applauds the initiatives undertaken by the EU to curb greenhouse gas emissions and in particular the emissions trading scheme that begins on 1 January 2005, and is greatly encouraged by the possibility of other countries such as Canada or Japan linking up to the EU's emissions trading scheme; calls on the Commission also to consider proposing linking the EU emissions trading scheme with regional initiatives which have adopted emission caps that are consistent with the UNFCCC objectives; further calls on the European Council to guarantee the prospect of utilising credits from project-based mechanisms in accordance with the conditions laid down in Directive 2004/101/EC also during the period after 2012;

16. Calls on the two Presidencies in 2005 to ensure that the momentum on this issue is maintained and even accelerated, whilst increasing the level of commitment and the number of international partners within the process;

17. Underlines that cooperation with the European Parliament and the Commission was informative and expects a solution to be found with the Council before the next Conference of Parties/Meeting of Parties in order for the European Parliament participants to have access to EU coordination meetings on the basis at least of observer status, with or without speaking rights;

18. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States and the Secretariat of the UNFCCC, with the request that it be circulated to all non-EU contracting parties.

[1] Texts Adopted, P6_TA(2004)0060.

[2] Decision No 280/2004/EC of 11 February 2004 concerning a mechanism for monitoring Community greenhouse gas emissions and for implementing the Kyoto Protocol (OJ L 49, 19.2.2004, p. 1) and Directive 2004/101/EC of 27 October 2004 amending Directive 2003/87/EC establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community, in respect of the Kyoto Protocol's project mechanisms (OJ L 338, 13.11.2004, p. 18).

[3] OJ L 275, 25.10.2003, p. 32.

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