The second preparatory meeting for the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate was held in Paris, France, from 25-26 May 2009, under the co-chairmanship of France and the United States, to prepare for next July’s summit of Heads of State and government on the margins of the G8 Summit.

This Forum seeks to address some key issues in the international negotiations on climate change, to find the points of convergence in order to achieve an agreed outcome in Copenhagen, and to identify long-term areas for action and cooperation. Participants at the Paris meeting addressed emissions reduction targets, whether and how to tailor the course of action to different countries, funding to combat climate change and international technology cooperation. The meeting’s conclusions reaffirm the importance of the role the major economies have to play in combating climate change.

With regard to emissions reduction targets, the meeting provided the opportunity to work on identifying key elements in the negotiations including: baselines, “peaking” years, reduction trajectories, low carbon strategies for developing countries, and medium- and long-term objectives. The discussions were also reported to have made progress on the role of technology and funding, based on Mexico’s proposal to create a “Green Fund.”
Links to further information
French Embassy in London Statement
France 24 News Release, 26 May 2009