Climate Policy post-Copenhagen (Communication)

Dr. Götz Reichert, LL.M.

Prof. Dr. Jan S. Voßwinkel

The Commission criticises the fact that the agreement among 29 Heads of State and Government on the Copenhagen Accord “falls well short“ of the EU’s objective to reach a “robust and effective legally binding“ follow-up agreement to the Kyoto Protocol. The Commission gives its view on financing of climate actions and adaptation measures, on the shortcoming of the Kyoto Protocol ant on international emissions trading. In order to keep up the momentum of global efforts to tackle climate change, the Commission outlines the main features of its further strategy.

cepPolicyBrief

It is to be welcomed that the Commission advocates emissions trading. However, the Commission does not present its own concept of a European policy on climate change for the case that a worldwide agreement cannot be concluded. Furthermore, it fails to address the question of whether or not it wishes to adhere to a unilateral climate policy. If the worldwide climate agreement fails and if the EU adheres to its unilateral climate policy, then losses in growth and employment will be much higher and, at the same time, create no climate benefit.

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Climate Policy post-Copenhagen COM(2010) 86 (publ. 07.25.2014)	PDF	87 KB	Download

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