Schauvliege: “Each step in the right direction is a step ahead”
Flemish Minister for Environment, Nature and Culture Joke Schauvliege will soon be departing to Cancún (Mexico) for the annual UN Summit on Climate Change. As chairwoman of the European Environment Council, she will be coordinating and defending the European climate position.
The 16th COP (Conference of the Parties) on climate change begins today (29 November). What is the aim of this annual meeting?
Schauvliege: “This annual COP should be regarded as a succession of Conventions that were concluded earlier in the framework of the UN. In this case, it concerns the Convention on Climate Change that was already accepted in 1992 and applied as of March 1994. 194 countries signed the Convention to grapple with -among others- greenhouse gasses, supporting developing countries financially and technologically and taking measures together to adapt to the impact of climate change. Cancún is the 16th step, the 17th COP will take place in Johannesburg (South Africa) next year.
The countries that ratified this Convention have agreed to -among others- keep the earth’s global warming under 2 degrees centigrade. This requires worldwide action. It is a complex process, but each step in the right direction is a step ahead.”
What is the position of the EU in the negotiations?
“The 27 EU member states already determined a common point of view at the official council of 14 October. The ambition remains the same, but the approach is more pragmatic. A legally binding worldwide agreement for the period after 2012 is not expected to be concluded in Cancún. To us, a balanced agreement should consists of the realisation of the promises of the Copenhagen Accord, adaptation to climate change, reforestation in developing countries, the exchange of technology, transparent regulations for reporting and emission standards for aviation and shipping, which are currently not yet part of the Kyoto Protocol. The EU is prepared to accept a second Kyoto period, but only if all major economies commit themselves. This included China and the USA.
The EU will be presenting its ‘fast start funding’ in Cancún. In 2010, Europe collected 2.2 billion euro to support developing countries in the adaptation to climate change. This promise of the EU is part of the Copenhagen Protocol to support the developing countries with 7.2 billion euro between 2010 and 2012.“
What will your role be during the negotiations in Cancún?
“I’ve been given a clear mandate to speak on behalf of the 27 member states in Cancún as the chairwoman of the EU Environment Council. I am coordinating the European position together with European Commissioner for Climate Change Connie Hedegaard. On site, the Council and the Commission will permanently attune to each other. We also have a report that explains how Europe can do more than reduce greenhouse gas emission by 20 percent.”
The previous COP in Copenhagen was considered a failure by the international press. Do you think that we can expect a better result this time?
“Last year’s expectations were too high, the summit’s organisation fell short and eventually Europe was sidelined at the final negotiations. We have learned from this experience. There has been a lot of consultation these past months to restore trust. We have realised that we will have to aim for what is feasible now, rather than the most ambitious aims.”
