Copenhagen, Denmark, 7-18 December 2009
Copenhagen Accord marks first step towards legally binding global climate agreement
The Copenhagen climate conference ended on 19 December by taking note of the 'Copenhagen Accord', which was supported by a large majority of Parties, including the European Union, but opposed by a small number.
The conference also mandated the two ad hoc working groups on long-term cooperative action under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and on further commitments for developed countries under the Kyoto Protocol to complete their work at the next annual climate conference, to be held in Mexico City in November 2010.
These results fall well short of the European Union's goal of achieving maximum progress in Copenhagen towards the finalisation of an ambitious and legally binding global climate treaty to succeed the Kyoto Protocol in 2013. Though disappointing, the Copenhagen outcome is however a step in the right direction.
The EU secured key elements of the Copenhagen Accord, which was negotiated among some 30 parties – many of them represented by their heads of state or government – from all UN regional groups during the course of 18 December and into the early hours of 19 December. These parties collectively represent more than 80% of global emissions.
The Accord received support from the vast majority of Parties to the UNFCCC, but due to opposition from a handful of countries the closing plenary session of the conference merely took note of the Accord without formally endorsing it.
Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, who as Council Presidency negotiated on behalf of the EU together with European Commission President José Manuel Barroso, said of the Accord: “This will not solve the threat of climate change. But it is a first step, an important step.”
President Barroso commented: “This accord is better than no accord.” He expressed disappointment over the absence of any reference to a future agreement being legally binding. “At the same time, it also fair to say that this was the first time we could put, in an agreement at this level, the actions that have now been pledged by many other Parties,” he said.
Following a discussion of the Accord by EU Environment Ministers on 22 December 2009, the Commission joined the Swedish Presidency in concluding that the Accord marks a first step towards a legally binding global agreement.
The Accord endorses for the first time at global level the objective of keeping warming to less than 2°C above the pre-industrial temperature. Another positive element is that it requires developed countries to submit economy-wide emission reduction targets, and developing countries to submit their mitigation actions, by 31 January 2010 so that they can be listed as part of the document. The Accord also lays the basis for a substantial ‘fast start’ finance package for developing countries approaching $30 billion for the period 2010-12, and medium-term financing of $100 billion annually by 2020.
However, the Accord does not refer to the conclusion of a legally binding agreement, a key objective for the EU, or set the goal of at least halving global emissions by 2050 compared to 1990 levels in order to keep warming below 2°C. The EU will continue to push for these.
The Accord also leaves many important details to be worked out. Much work will now be needed to make the Accord operational. If this can be achieved it could, together with the outcomes of the two working groups, provide the basis of a new global climate treaty.
The European Commission’s goal is now to ensure that a legally binding treaty is agreed in November 2010 in Mexico City.
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