EU raises stakes on emissions reductions

Reports from the first days of the UNFCCC Climate Change Conference, COP15, Copenhagen, 7-18 December 2009.

The European Union withdrew an offer to increase its greenhouse gas emissions reduction target on the 7 December 2009 because it said similar offers made by many nations in the previous month were inadequate to prevent significant climate change.

The tough stance is intended to spur other governments into increasing their proposed cuts at the United Nations’ Copenhagen climate change conference, which opened on the 7 December 2009.

Observers said it was a strong indicator of just how tough the negotiations would be over the following fortnight.

Deutsche Welle, 10.12.09: EU leaders reach for climate agreement in Copenhagen http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5000808,00.html

ESO: Background information: United Nations Climate Change Conference, 7-18 December 2008 (COP15) http://www.europeansources.info/record/website-united-nations-climate-change-conference-7-18-december-2009-cop15/

EurActiv, 8.12.09: Dimas calls for global climate treaty by June 2010 http://www.euractiv.com/climate-change/dimas-calls-global-climate-treat-news-223119

BBC News: Copenhagen Summit 2009 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/sci_tech/2009/copenhagen/default.stm

Deutsche Welle, 7.12.09: Climate conference opens with a mixture of warnings and assurances http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4974383,00.html

France24, 8.12.09: US vows to start regulating emissions, boosting Copenhagen talks http://www.france24.com/en/20091208-us-vows-start-regulating-emissions-boosting-copenhagen-talks

The Guardian, 7.12.09: Copenhagen climate change conference: 'Fourteen days to seal history's judgment on this generation' (editorial in 56 newspapers from across the world) http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/dec/06/copenhagen-editorial

EurActiv, 11.12.09: EU cobbles together climate aid for Copenhagen http://www.euractiv.com/climate-change/eu-cobbles-climate-aid-copenhage-news-223137

BBC News, 11.12.09: EU climate cash pledge 'not enough' say small nations http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8408821.stm

EurActiv, 18.12.09: EU 'disappointed' by Chinese, US climate pledges http://www.euractiv.com/climate-change/eu-disappointed-chinese-us-clima-news-223296

EurActiv, 18.12.09: Copenhagen climate talks: Main issues and state of play http://www.euractiv.com/en/climate-change/copenhagen-climate-talks-main-issues-state-play/article-188470

EurActiv, 9.12.09: EU leaders set to downgrade climate expectations http://www.euractiv.com/climate-change/eu-postpone-decision-climate-fin-news-222099

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