The ministers, meeting in the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (Ecofin) today (10 March), will adopt conclusions on international financing for climate change, but are not expected to put any figures on the table. Poland, however, is demanding the inclusion of a clause on the "clarification of burden sharing".
Poland argues that by failing to decide upon burden sharing between EU nations, the bloc will send out the wrong signal regarding its commitment to a successful conclusion of the negotiations.
At the moment, the draft text guiding ministers' discussions is very general and does not commit the EU to any particular outcome. According to the Czech EU Presidency, it is in line with environment ministers' conclusions dated 2 March (EurActiv 03/03/09). Both points of view will contribute to the Union's final position, to be drawn up at the upcoming EU summit on 19-20 March.
Most member states have agreed upon the draft conclusions, but dividing lines are emerging as to how much emphasis should be put on financing climate change, and its impact on EU states and developing countries.
Poland wants weightier proposals to be put on the table, drawing attention to the implications that a climate deal will have on European countries. EU member states will be expected to dig deep to pay for the measures deemed necessary.
The UNFCCC estimates that $200 billion will be needed in 2030 to keep greenhouse gas emissions at today's levels. Half of this amount is needed by the developing world.
The Polish government wants the EU to clearly define the extent to which it is willing to aid developing countries, a Polish official told EurActiv. The next step would be to define criteria according to which EU states would share the financing burden. For example, these could include GDP or emissions per capita, they added.
"We want to invite member states for a discussion on this, not to postpone it anymore," the official said, stating that clarity on the issue must be found before the EU enters the international negotiating floor.
Member states have been reluctant to make any clear financial commitments at this stage of the UN negotiations over an international climate agreement. They say promises made too early would not be politically expedient, particularly as the US is yet to express its stance on the issue. At present, only Hungary and Lithuania have expressed their support for Poland's proposal to establish criteria for effort sharing at the first possible opportunity.
