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COP 21 –
the role and expectations of civil society
Brussels, Nov 19, 2015
EESC/ CoR – Conference on COP 21
Lutz Ribbe
EESC Sustainable Development Observatory
COP 21 in Paris – opinion of the EESC
• Comments on COM (2015) 81 final: “The Paris Protocol – A
blueprint for tackling global climate change beyond 2020”
• Adopted in the plenary session on July 2nd
EESC opinion, adopted on July 2nd
1. expectations ...
2. role ....
... of civil society
COP 21 in Paris – situation
• In 1992, 23 (!) years ago – at the “Rio conference” – the “United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)” was set up
• Article 2: objective is to stabilise "greenhouse gas
concentrations ... at a level that would prevent dangerous
anthropogenic interference with the climate system" ...
COP 21 in Paris – situation
• 21 (!) years of negotiation with extreme little result ...
• ... but increasing GHG emission:from 30,8 Mrd t (1992) � 43,4 Mrd t (2011): ca. 50%
• climate change is visible today (!), effects human being, the environment and our economy
COP 21 in Paris – opinion of the EESC
The EESC agrees with the EU ...
• legal binding agreement which is both fair and ambitious
• the principle of common but differentiated responsibility,
INDC`s are crucial (what about the EU-28?)
− Most countries have to reduce their GHG emissions,− Some have to go straight towards a low carbon economy
• financial arrangements (100 billion $/ a)• issues surrounding technology transfer
• rules on monitoring the agreement
EESC thoughts on ... “ambitious”
• UNFCCC does not spell out exactly what "dangerous
anthropogenic interference with the climate system" means.
• COP 16(in 2010): political agreement to limit the global
temperature increase to less than 2 degrees Celsius
• Any scientific basis to show that the objective will be
achieved?
EESC thoughts on ... “ambitious”
• Serious consequences already today; much below
“2 degrees”
• EESC: “The 2oC limit therefore cannot be seen as a target to
be reached, but rather as a ceiling to be undercut as much as
possible”
•^^
EESC thoughts on ... “INDC`s”
• Agreement in Lima to present them by end of march
• Mid of July: just 46 parties, incl. EU
• EU: not 28 INDC`s, but just one
• ... who will be responsible in the EU???
EESC thoughts on ... “climate fund”
• 100 bill $ for the “climate fund” is seen as “essential”
• IMF working paper on energy subsidies
5 300 000 000 000 $/ year
14 500 000 000 $/ day
604 000 000 $/ hour
Any negotiation at the COP 21 on that?
EESC thoughts on ... “climate fund”
• 100 bill $ to compete with 5,3 trillion $?!?!
• IMF: stop these “perverse” subsidies
� 57% reduction of fossil-fuel-related deaths
� 24% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
EESC thoughts on ... “Paris/ COP” in general
• Negotiation not just because of climate problems ...
• ... pave the road to the low carbon economy
• EU: still frontrunner? (discussion on carbon leakage, jobs losses)
• EESC: “... risk that Europe could lose its past technological, and thus economic, lead in renewable energy and green technology” (low carbon leakage)
Failure or partial failure of COP??
“... in reality, the battle for future markets in green
technologies started a long time ago, and it is a battle that
Europe needs to fight, whether or not COP 21 produces
results.”
EESC opionion, adopted on July 2nd
1. expectations ...
2. role ....
... of civil society
COP 21 in Paris – opinion of the EESC
Role of civil society:
1. exert public pressure on the negotiator: � all major changes are “bottom-up”/ driven by civil society (see: fall of iron curtain in Europe, energy transition, organic farming ...)
2. disseminating good practices and knowledge of positive developments
3. implementing climate protection decisions
���� not a decision will save the climate, but the implementation
COP 21 in Paris – opinion of the EESC
• “The new climate policy cannot and must not be imposed "from above", but needs to be based on broad support from all stakeholders and to be implemented "from below“”.
• No reference in the COM Document nor a intensive and structured dialogue on the role of civil society/ cities ...
• ... and we miss a coherent EU policy
Juncker: Europe should become Nr 1
in RES in the world
But: how????
Changing the future of energy:
civil society as a main player in
renewable energy generation
EESC Study
EESC Sustainable Development [email protected]
http://www.eesc.europa.eu/?i=portal.en.sdo-observatory-red
Report publication:
January 2015
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Understanding:
• RES/ energy transition is much more than just a technical
question! It`s on the structure of the energy production,
it`s on market and money
• we can combine energy production and regional
development!
• Need for EU, national and regional policies and strategies for empowering local/ regional renewable energy generation
Ownership distribution of installed renewable electricity generation
capacity in Germany (2012).
Source: Blog "German Energy Transition"
An example: the German Energiewende:
In 2014:
• More than 30% of
electricity from
renewable sources (3% in
1990).
• More than 1000 energy
cooperatives.
• More than 50 % of the
currently installed
capacity (73 GW) are civic
energy installations.
Summary
• It`s time for urgent action
• Civil society is “ahead” of the politicians …
• …. we may not allow them not to act!
• The EESC supports the EU COP 21 negotiation strategy
• There is no strategy for implementing the decisions …
Summary
• Civil society/ regions/ cites will have to play a crucial role
• … and interested and ready being a major driver of the energy transition and climate protection…
• … contributing with human resources, funds and creativity;
Summary
• aware of the opportunities for local socio-economic development offered by renewable energy; but also about the problems of the transition
• frustrations with bureaucratic hurdles, fears about current policy reforms
• No consistently implemented, targeted policy support for
civic renewable energy at any level • … we will not allow them to hinder us becoming active
���� political willingness?
… COP 21 is just a starting point
