cop 21 – the role and expectations of civil society · cop 21 in paris –opinion of the eesc •...
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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
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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
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EESC opinion, adopted on July 2nd
1. expectations ...
2. role ....
... of civil society
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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" ...
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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
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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
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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?
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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”
•^^
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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???
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EESC thoughts on ... “climate fund”
• 100 bill $ for the “climate fund” is seen as “essential”
• IMF working paper on energy subsidies
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5 300 000 000 000 $/ year
14 500 000 000 $/ day
604 000 000 $/ hour
Any negotiation at the COP 21 on that?
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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
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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)
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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.”
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EESC opionion, adopted on July 2nd
1. expectations ...
2. role ....
... of civil society
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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
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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
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Juncker: Europe should become Nr 1
in RES in the world
But: how????
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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:
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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
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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.
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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 …
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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;
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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?
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… COP 21 is just a starting point