Developed and developing countries submit their climate protection targets to the United Nations
By the end of January 55 countries submitted their national climate protection targets to the United Nations. The list of countries has now been published by the UN Climate Secretariat (UNFCCC). The EU and its member states have pledged a 20 per cent or, linked to certain conditions, a 30 per cent reduction by 2020. In the same time span Germany aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent. When the list of countries was published Environment Minister Röttgen declared that this was an important step for the international climate negotiations. Federal Environment Minister Röttgen went on to say: "The number of countries pledging reductions goes far beyond the number of countries negotiating the agreement at Copenhagen. The list specifically includes the main emitters. This large-scale support gives a considerable political boost to the results achieved at the Copenhagen climate conference. In their pledges developed and developing countries express their joint responsibility for climate protection."
At the UN climate conference which took place in Copenhagen in December 2009 a group of 25 countries negotiated the Copenhagen Accord. These countries committed themselves to submit their national emission reduction contributions to the United Nations by 31 January 2010, split into targets for developed countries and targets for developing countries. Environment Minister Röttgen pointed out that developed countries pledged, as agreed, absolute reduction figures whereas developing countries submitted their measurable contributions. The Minister was confident that the list of supportive countries would grow. At the Conference of the Parties the participating countries merely took note of the Copenhagen Accord.
Minister Röttgen emphasised that the climate negotiations belonged under the auspices of the United Nations. He particularly welcomed the fact that this was also stressed in several notifications. "The national contributions pledged will not be enough to undercut the 2 degree limit but they are a step ahead towards achieving this goal."
The EU and numerous other countries have linked more ambitious reduction targets to the conclusion of a comprehensive and legally binding climate agreement. "In the upcoming climate negotiations the EU will strive to convince all states that they should make legally binding commitments for their more ambitious targets. Germany will cooperate closely with Mexico, the host of the next climate summit in December, to reach this objective. Furthermore, Germany will host an informal conference of environment ministers in Bonn this spring. And Germany will continue to lead by example", Minister Röttgen explained with a view to the 40 per cent target.