Preparations for the 21th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the 11th session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 11), Paris 2015

The Council of the European Union adopted on 18 September 2015 conclusions establishing the EU's position for the UN climate change conference in Paris, 30 November - 11 December 2015. This mandate set out the EU's vision for the new climate agreement to be adopted at the conference.

The EU would aim at reaching an ambitious, legally-binding and dynamic agreement, with the objective of keeping global warming below 2°C. In order to achieve this objective, the Council stressed that global greenhouse gas emissions need to peak by 2020 at the latest, be reduced by at least 50% by 2050 compared to 1990 and be near zero or below by 2100.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Paris Climate Change Conference - November 2015 http://www.europeansources.info/record/paris-climate-change-conference-november-december-2015/

ESO: Background information: Environment Council, 18 September 2015 http://www.europeansources.info/record/environment-council-18-september-2015/

EUObserver, 18.09.15: EU agrees common position for climate summit https://euobserver.com/environment/130326

EurActiv, 18.09.15: Ministers unite on mandate for Paris climate talks http://www.euractiv.com/sections/energy/eu-ministers-unite-mandate-paris-climate-talks-317778

Politico, 19.09.15: EU climate goals set to clash with US aims http://www.politico.eu/article/eu-climate-goals-set-to-clash-with-us-aims-cop21-paris-canete/

EurActiv, 22.09.15: Luxembourg under fire for fossil fuel subsidies ahead of climate talks http://www.euractiv.com/sections/energy/luxembourg-under-fire-fossil-fuel-subsidies-ahead-climate-talks-317824

EurActiv, 05.10.15: Green Climate Fund set for launch before COP21 http://www.euractiv.com/sections/sustainable-dev/green-climate-fund-set-launch-cop21-318201

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