| Author (Corporate) | European Commission |
|---|---|
| Series Title | COM |
| Series Details | (2016) 395 final (10.6.16) |
| Publication Date | 10/06/2016 |
| Content Type | Policy-making |
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At the 21st Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) (known as COP 21), which took place in Paris from 30 November to 12 December 2015, the text of an agreement was adopted, concerning the strengthening of the global response to climate change. The Agreement will enter into force on the 30th day after the date on which at least 55 parties to the Convention accounting in total for at least an estimated 55% of global greenhouse gas emissions have deposited their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession. In its communication assessing the implications of the Paris Agreement, the Commission stated that the Paris Agreement should be signed and ratified as soon as possible. The European Council welcomed the Commission communication and underlined the need for the European Union and its Member States to be able to ratify the Paris Agreement as soon as possible and on time so as to be Parties as of its entry into force. As a first step, the Agreement was signed by the Commission and Council on behalf of the European Union and by all 28 Member States on their behalf at the high-level signature ceremony which took place in New York on 22 April 2016. The Paris Agreement is a global milestone for enhancing global collective action and accelerating the global transformation to a low-carbon and climate resilient society. It will replace the approach taken under the 1997 Kyoto Protocol,that contains commitments until the end of 2020. These commitments will not be continued beyond 2020. The Paris Agreement presents an opportunity for economic transformation, jobs and growth. It is a central element in achieving broader sustainable development goals, as well as the EU's priorities of investment, competitiveness, circular economy, research, innovation and energy transition. The Paris Agreement sets out a qualitative long-term emissions reduction goal in line with the objective to keep the global temperature increase well below 2°C and to pursue efforts to keep it to 1.5°C. In order to achieve this goal, the parties will prepare, communicate and maintain successive nationally determined contributions. Starting from 2023, parties will every 5 years undertake a global stocktake, based on the latest science and implementation to date, which will track progress and consider emission reductions, adaptation and support provided. Ahead of COP 21, parties to the UNFCCC presented their intended nationally determined contributions to the Agreement. The European Union and its Member States were the first major economy to communicate their intended nationally determined contribution on 6 March 2015, reflecting the 2030 climate and energy policy framework set by the October 2014 European Council and the European Commission's blueprint for tackling global climate change beyond 2020. The EU has set an ambitious economy-wide target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions at least 40% domestically by 2030. The European Union and its Member States have expressed the intention to act jointly under the Paris Agreement and this is reflected in Article 4 of the Paris Agreement. The Union and its Member States are therefore jointly responsible, pursuant to paragraph 18 of that Article, for preparing, communicating and maintaining successive nationally determined contributions they intend to achieve and for pursuing domestic mitigation measures with the aim of achieving the objectives of the nationally determined contribution under paragraph 2 of that Article. Norway and Iceland have expressed an intention to participate in the joint action by the Union and its Member States. The terms governing possible participation by Norway and Iceland will be laid down in accompanying legislation. This proposal is without prejudice to how Norway and Iceland will participate in the joint action. |
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| Source Link | http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM:2016:395:FIN |
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| Subject Categories | Environment |
| Countries / Regions | Europe |
