The anticipated global climate agreement to be adopted in December 2015, energy efficiency and biodiversity conservation were among the topics addressed at the Eighth Bilateral Summit of the Republic of Korea and the EU.
The two parties delivered a joint statement underlining their commitment to work with other countries to deliver an “ambitious” and “effective” agreement under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at the Paris Climate Change Conference.
15 September 2015: The anticipated global climate agreement to be adopted in December 2015, energy efficiency and biodiversity conservation were among the topics addressed at the Eighth Bilateral Summit of the Republic of Korea and the EU. The two parties delivered a joint statement underlining their commitment to work with other countries to deliver an “ambitious” and “effective” agreement under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at the Paris Climate Change Conference.
At the meeting, held on 15 September 2015 in Seoul, Republic of Korea, EU President Donald Tusk, Korean President Geun-hye Park, and EU Commissioner Cecilia Malmström, representing the President of the Commission, gave a press conference to deliver the statement.
The joint statement addresses climate change, climate finance, energy, biodiversity and the post-2015 development agenda. On climate change, the leaders call for the 2015 agreement to put the world on track to limit temperature rise below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. Noting the need for cooperative action to enable a transformation to a low-carbon economy, the leaders add that the agreement must also address adaptation and reflect the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities (CBDR-RC) in light of different national circumstances.
On climate finance, the statement underscores the role of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and affirms the leaders’ “ambition to make the GCF fully operational in 2015” and the main operating entity of the financial mechanism of the post-2020 climate regime.
On energy, the two sides call for their cooperation to promote energy efficiency and energy security, including in electricity, renewables and gas.
On biodiversity, the statement celebrates progress by the Republic of Korea, with technical support from the EU, on preventing, deterring and eliminating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing through the establishment of a robust control system. The two parties are considering increasing their technical cooperation through a working group, enhancing their bilateral cooperation on oceans policies and tackling issues related to global ocean governance.
On the post-2015 development agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the statement notes that the leaders agreed their development policies and measures should align with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. [Joint Statement] [GCF Press Release] [European Council Press Release]