European Environment Ministers adopt ambitious negotiation mandate for Paris
Federal Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks welcomed today's conclusions of the EU Environment Council. The Environment Ministers adopted an ambitious mandate for the international climate negotiations in Paris at their meeting today. They also decided to adopt more stringent rules for the European Emissions Trading Scheme, the most important instrument of EU climate policy, by introducing a market stability reserve (MSR).
Minister Hendricks commented: "The EU agreed on an ambitious negotiation mandate for Paris today. We have reached a consensus on the clear long-term goal of achieving sustainable climate neutrality by the second half of this century."
In its conclusions, the Council expressly welcomes the outcomes of the G7 summit in Elmau thus setting the track for complete decarbonisation. The EU also agreed on reviewing the level of ambition every five years. It was also determined that targets will be continuously developed and will not fall back behind previous targets. "This mandate allows the European Union to take on a pioneering role in Paris", Minister Hendricks said.
At the Council meeting, Germany advocated an ambitious long-term goal and that the goal of decarbonisation be included. The Council conclusions welcome the goal previously formulated by the G7 states and lay down the long-term goal of sustainable climate neutrality.
The Council also adopted the introduction of the market stability reserve (MSR) to reform the Emissions Trading Scheme. Federal Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks supported an effective reform of emissions trading shortly after entering into office and was able to pursue the topic in the trilogue in May 2015. The reform can enter into force now that the Council has adopted it.
Background:
In its conclusions the Environment Council adopted the negotiation mandate for the upcoming 21st Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention on Climate Change. The international climate negotiations will take place in Paris from 30 November to 11 December. With a view to the clear findings of the latest IPCC report, the Council conclusions underline the urgency of vigorous climate action at global level. They welcome the intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs) presented so far and call on all those countries that have not presented their INDCs yet to do so as soon as possible. The Council conclusions also expressed the expectations the EU has for the new climate agreement and thus laid down the negotiation mandate.