EURACTIV logo

EU tempted to bypass Poland to meet climate commitments

By Aline Robert | EURACTIV.fr | translated by Paola Tamma

16-11-2017

Miguel Arias Canete will try to ratify the Doha amendment at 27- leaving Poland out, he said on Tuesday in Bonn. [Source: EC - Audiovisual Service]

Languages: Français

The EU’s Climate Commissioner has said that the bloc will do all it can to overcome Poland’s refusal to sign the Doha Amendment, which represents the second part of the pre-2020 Kyoto Protocol. EURACTIV France reports.

COP23 brought back to the top of the agenda a topic that was thought dead and buried: that of the second part of the Kyoto Protocol, formalised in the Doha Amendment, and which specifies the commitments of each party before 2020.

For the EU, this is a global commitment to reduce emissions by 30% between 1990 and 2020.

In the absence of strong leadership to go further, “the usual quarrels have returned to centre stage, it feels like going back”, said a veteran of climate negotiations.

The grievance of developing countries, no matter how anachronistic, is nevertheless relevant: long-term commitments like the Paris Agreement are all very well, but in the meantime things do not change much. “Focusing on what happens before 2020 is logical, there are real steps to take,” said Pierre Canet, of WWF France.

The Moroccan presidency of COP22 proposed a global text on pre-2020 issues to solve the roadblock, adopted on Wednesday (15 November) by diplomats and which allows for dialogue between the parties.

This text also provides a pledge on touchy finance issues: the goal of €100bn of North-South donations by 2020, for example.

Under pressure, the EU is trying to overcome its divisions

The EU quickly showed its goodwill to ratify the Doha amendment. But with 27 countries – leaving Poland out in the cold. “We will discuss on Thursday to see if we can ratify as 27,” announced Climate Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete on Wednesday at a press conference.

The Doha Amendment has never been ratified because of Poland, but all the instruments are ready and so are the countries, and clearly it is legallly possible to override the Polish opposition.

In the face of the pressing demands of the South, however, six European countries preferred to ratify the agreement on their own, even if the EU’s commitment comes first and foremost.

Sweden tops climate action index, Ireland underwhelms

Ireland is the worst performing EU member state on climate change action, according to a new report that has ranked 60 of the world’s major countries in order of commitment to emissions reductions and other tenets of the Paris Agreement.

A scattered ratification that shows once again how difficult it is for the EU to speak with one voice on climate change, despite the clear mandate given to it by member states on the subject.

For the time being, Spain, Luxembourg, Italy, Hungary, Germany and Belgium have ratified it according to the UN website – that is six out of 28 countries.

However, Commissioner Cañete stressed that the EU’s signature will not allow for the second part of the Kyoto Protocol to be implemented, as the number of signature countries needed (144) is far from being reached.

Carbon markets back in vogue at COP23

Carbon markets have become a vital piece of common ground for defenders of the climate. The tool is gradually extending around the world, bringing with it higher revenues. EURACTIV France reports.

Background

The Doha Amendment: the second part of the Kyoto Protocol

As of 17 October 2017, almost five years after the adoption of the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol's second commitment period (2013-2020), only 83 Parties had ratified this amendment, of which only ten of the 38 Parties having entered into reduction commitments under this heading: Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, Switzerland, Hungary, Cyprus, Romania, Italy and Luxembourg [the latter five countries in the EU] and Australia. The amendment was adopted on 8 December 2012 at the end of the 8th Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol [Doha, Qatar, end-2012]. At COP-22, only two Parties submitted their instruments of ratification (The Gambia on 7 November and Australia on 9 November 2016). The Doha Amendment can not enter into force until 144 Parties have ratified it.

At EU level, Council Decision (EU) No 2015/1339 of 13 July 2015 on the conclusion, on behalf of the EU, of the Doha Amendment, and the joint implementation of the ensuing commitments has been published in the Official Journal of the EU. However, because of a veto from Poland, this instrument of ratification has not yet been deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Member States will also have to ratify, individually, the text via their national parliament. As mentioned above, only six have already done so.

With regard to the technical arrangements for the implementation of the second commitment period under theKyoto Protocol, Regulation (EU) No 662/2014 amending Regulation (EU) No 525/2013 was adopted by the European Parliament and the Council on 15 May 2014 (OJ L 189 of 27 June 2014).

EURACTIV's editorial content is independent from the views of our sponsors.

Languages: Français

Do you value EURACTIV’s reporting? We need your support.

Dear reader,

Media is a pillar of democracy – as long as it can function properly. Now more than ever we need unbiased, expert information on how and why the European Union functions. This information should not be behind a paywall, and we remain committed to providing our content for free.

We know our readers value our reporting. We know journalism that covers the EU in a clear, unbiased way is critical to the future of the European Union.

And we know your support is critical for ensuring this independent and free journalism.

Don’t take the media sector for granted. It was already fragile before the coronavirus pandemic. And as people can’t meet, media companies have lost a major source of revenue: events. EURACTIV is supported by a mix of revenue streams including sponsorships, online advertising, EU-funded projects, and policy debates. All of these sources of revenue are impacted by the current crisis. 

 

While media struggles, disinformation thrives. We are already seeing fearmongering, fake news about the EU response, and increased threats to freedom of the press.


For more than two decades we have provided free, independent, multilingual reporting on the European Union. We continue to believe in Europe, and we hope you do too. 

Your financial support at this critical time will allow our network of newsrooms across Europe to continue their work when Europe needs it most.

Support EURACTIV Media Network for Europe and CONTRIBUTE today. 

Topics  

Subscribe to our newsletters

Subscribe
Contribute