The Council of environment ministers of the EU adopted conclusions establishing the EU position for COP 17 in Durban, in which ministers, inter alia, confirm openness to a second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol as part of a transition to a wider legally-binding framework, and stress the need for a decision on the operationalization of the climate technology centre and network.
10 October 2011: The Council of environment ministers of the EU adopted conclusions establishing the EU position for the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 17) to the UNFCCC, in which they stress the need to agree on a global and comprehensive legally-binding framework as soon as possible to keep the increase of global temperature below 2°C compared to the pre-industrial level, guaranteeing legal certainty, predictability, reciprocity and comparability.
In the Council conclusions, EU ministers confirm openness to a second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol as part of a transition to a wider legally-binding framework, provided that: the essential elements of the Kyoto Protocol are preserved, its environmental integrity is guaranteed and its architecture is further enhanced, including on land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF), surplus of Assigned Amount Units (AAUs) and market-based mechanisms; and the Convention addresses the key outstanding issues and determines a roadmap, including a timeline with a final date and process towards a multilateral, rules-based legal framework engaging all parties.
The Council also underscores the need for a decision in Durban on: the operationalization of the Climate Technology Centre and Network; a work programme on agriculture; modalities for the International Assessment and Review and the International Consultations and Analysis; and guidelines for the biennial reports from Annex I and non Annex I Parties. It also calls for the establishment of a new market-based mechanism for developing countries consisting of a common core set of rules and procedures at the international level allowing differentiated forms of implementation, namely crediting and trading, to be fully accounted for, as part of a rigorous, robust and transparent common accounting framework in order to track progress against targets, avoid double-counting and provide a credible framework for global carbon trading.
COP 17 will take place from 28 November-9 December 2011, in Durban, South Africa. [EU Press Release] [Council Conclusions]