Brazil and Germany have expressed determination to work towards a successful 21st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 21) to the UNFCCC.
In a joint statement issued during Brazilian-German intergovernmental consultations, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel announced the two countries would aim for “a fair, ambitious, long-term, comprehensive and legally binding agreement under the UNFCCC.”
20 August 2015: Brazil and Germany have expressed determination to work towards a successful 21st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 21) to the UNFCCC. In a joint statement issued during Brazilian-German intergovernmental consultations, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel announced the two countries would aim for “a fair, ambitious, long-term, comprehensive and legally binding agreement under the UNFCCC.”
In addition, the two Heads of State called for an agreement that reflects the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR) in accordance with different national circumstances. The two countries also stressed the need for countries participating in COP 21 to increase, over time, their economy-wide emission reduction targets, based on their individual capacities and respective stages of development, with the long-term goal of ensuring that the global average temperature increase remains below 2°C compared to pre-industrial levels. According to the two countries, reaching this goal will imply a transition to energy systems based on renewable sources and a decarbonization of the global economy during the ongoing century.
The consultations, which were held from 19-20 August 2015, in Brasília, Brazil, focused on science, innovation and technology, and cooperation in the areas of environment and climate. The agenda included 24 bilateral ministerial meetings, and the signing of 17 bilateral instruments to promote cooperation and dialogue in areas such as: application of innovations in productive processes; marine research; rare earths; ‘bioeconomy’; education; health; and food and nutrition security.
During the meeting, the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany announced it would make available, over the next two years, €551.5 million for new bilateral cooperation projects, in particular in the areas of conservation of tropical forests, renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Under the consultative mechanism, established in 2013, Germany and Brazil hold bilateral presidential and ministerial meetings every two years. COP 21 will take place from 30 November to 11 December 2015 in Paris, France. [German Government Press Release] [Brazilian Government Press Release on Opening (in Portuguese)] [Brazilian Government Press Release on Closing (in Portuguese)]