GWPF | 24 Feb 2015
Europe’s proposed new climate goals could be weaker than previously announced due to its method of accounting for changes in land use. Last October the bloc agreed to target greenhouse gas cuts of 40% on 1990 levels by 2030, a rise on its 20% goal for 2020. But in a leaked document outlining the European Commission’s plans for curbing carbon pollution, the 40% goal now includes land use, land use change and forestry accounting. This means the growth of existing forests could be used towards EU targets, which analysts say could mean the 40% drops to 35% in reality. –Ed King, Responding to Climate Change 24 February 2015
Given that heads of states agreed to “at least” 40%, including the land use sector would not be in line with the political decision that has already been taken. It would also be seen as ‘backsliding’ from the originally presented 40% target and would set the EU off on a bad start towards agreeing an ambitious international climate treaty in Paris in December 2015. — Eva Filzmoser, Responding to Climate Change 24 February 2015
1) EU ‘Backtracks’ On CO2 Targets In UN Accounting Fudge – Responding to Climate Change 24 February 2015
2) R.K. Pachauri Steps Down As IPCC Chairman – The Hindu, 24 February 2015
3) EU Energy Union Plan Meets German Resistance – The Local, 24 February 2015
4) EU To Publish Christmas Wish List For Paris Climate Deal – Reuters, 24 February 2015
5) Solar Eclipse Puts Europe’s Power Supplies At Risk – Financial Times, 24 February 2015
6) EU Deeply Divided Over Carbon Market Reform – Reuters, 23 February 2015
After facing allegations of sexual harassment, Dr. Rajendra Kumar Pachauri has stepped down as Chairperson of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) with effect from Tuesday. The IPCC said it cannot comment or speculate on the judicial process while it is running its course. “Until this case is resolved there is a presumption of innocence,” according to Jonathan Lynn, Head, Communications and Media Relations, IPCC. –Meena Menon, The Hindu, 24 February 2015
European Commission plans to create a single market in energy, partly to reduce dependence on Russian gas, are sure to raise hackles in Berlin. Energy Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič presented plans in Brussels on Monday for an “Energy Union” aimed at helping EU members avoid shortages, the Süddeutsche Zeitung reported. Šefčovič called it “the most ambitious plan since the founding of the Coal and Steel Community” in 1951, the intra-European organization widely seen as a forerunner of the modern-day EU. But the idea is sure to meet resistance among ministers in Berlin, who insist that the EU should continue to regard energy as a matter for national governments – a condition laid out in the treaties governing the EU. —The Local, 24 February 2015
European Union leaders want to enshrine in international law a goal to cut global emissions by 60 percent by 2050, according to a draft document that puts the bloc on a collision course with the biggest polluters. The EU document also proposes that the 2015 deal “should preferably be in the form of a protocol”, which is the toughest legal option. That could meet resistance from China and the United States, which are likely to prefer looser arrangements than internationally binding law. —Reuters, 24 February 2015
An eclipse of the sun next month could disrupt Europe’s power supplies because so many countries now rely on solar energy, electricity system operators have warned. “The risk of incident cannot be completely ruled out,” the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity said on Monday, adding the eclipse on March 20 would be “an unprecedented test for Europe’s electricity system”. “The whole of the European area is concerned either directly or indirectly,” it added, but countries with a large amount of solar power, such as Germany and Italy, are likely to be of most concern. –Pilita Clark, Financial Times, 24 February 2015
Prospects for early reforms to prop up the EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS), the world’s biggest carbon market, hang in the balance ahead of a closely watched vote on Tuesday with members of the European Parliament divided over how soon to act. Parliamentary sources said negotiations between rival political groups are likely to continue up to the vote at around 1400 GMT, which still needs to be followed by a plenary vote and to get the backing of member states. –Barbara Lewis, Reuters, 23 February 2015
1) EU ‘Backtracks’ On CO2 Targets In UN Accounting Fudge
Responding to Climate Change 24 February 2015
Europe’s proposed new climate goals could be weaker than previously announced due to its method of accounting for changes in land use.
But in a leaked document outlining the European Commission’s plans for curbing carbon pollution, the 40% goal now includes land use, land use change and forestry accounting.
This means the growth of existing forests could be used towards EU targets, which analysts say could mean the 40% drops to 35% in reality.
Niklas Höhne, an analyst at the NewClimate Institute, told RTCC this would place less pressure on other sectors such as energy and transport to reduce their carbon footprint.
“Forests grow and sequester more and more carbon without an additional intervention… they allow in the end accounting for reductions without any additional action,” he said.
Farmlands, wetlands and forests cover 90% of the EU’s land mass, and are currently regarded as a carbon sink, sucking and storing carbon from the atmosphere. […]
“Given that heads of states agreed to “at least” 40%, including the land use sector would not be in line with the political decision that has already been taken,” said Eva Filzmoser from the Carbon Market Watch NGO.
“It would also be seen as ‘backsliding’ from the originally presented 40% target and would set the EU off on a bad start towards agreeing on an ambitious international climate treaty in Paris in December 2015.”
2) R.K. Pachauri Steps Down As IPCC Chairman
The Hindu, 24 February 2015
Meena Menon
After facing allegations of sexual harassment, Dr. Rajendra Kumar Pachauri has stepped down as Chairperson of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) with effect from Tuesday.
In response to a request from The Hindu, the IPCC said it cannot comment or speculate on the judicial process while it is running its course. “Until this case is resolved there is a presumption of innocence,” according to Jonathan Lynn, Head, Communications and Media Relations, IPCC.
Read Dr. R.K. Pachauri’s resignation letter here
An IPCC press release said after he stepped down, The Bureau of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) agreed on Tuesday, in accordance with its procedures, to designate Vice-Chair Ismail El Gizouli as Acting IPCC Chair.
The decision to name Mr. Gizouli was taken at a Session of the Bureau ahead of the 41st Session of the IPCC which will be held in Nairobi. “The actions taken today will ensure that the IPCC’s mission to assess climate change continues without interruption,” said Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), who facilitated the Bureau meeting. “We look forward to a productive session in Nairobi this week,” he added in the press release.
3) EU Energy Union Plan Meets German Resistance
The Local, 24 February 2015
European Commission plans to create a single market in energy, partly to reduce dependence on Russian gas, are sure to raise hackles in Berlin.
Energy Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič presented plans in Brussels on Monday for an “Energy Union” aimed at helping EU members avoid shortages, the Süddeutsche Zeitung reported.
Šefčovič called it “the most ambitious plan since the founding of the Coal and Steel Community” in 1951, the intra-European organization widely seen as a forerunner of the modern-day EU.
But the idea is sure to meet resistance among ministers in Berlin, who insist that the EU should continue to regard energy as a matter for national governments – a condition laid out in the treaties governing the EU.
Under Šefčovič’s plan, barriers between the 28 national energy markets would be lifted.
He says that the move would reduce European dependence on Russian gas – taking away one of Russian president Vladimir Putin’s biggest diplomatic weapons – and attract investors to the industry.
The plan would also see any new deals with producing countries, like Russia, subjected to scrutiny from the European Commission to make sure they comply with EU law.
In a parliamentary answer last year, the German government said that such deals were a matter for the private companies involved.
“German firms have signed long-term contracts with Russian companies, some of them with a duration of more than 20 years,” the answer read.
“The government is not party to the contracts and has no influence on their contents.”
4) EU To Publish Christmas Wish List For Paris Climate Deal
Reuters, 24 February 2015
European Union leaders want to enshrine in international law a goal to cut global emissions by 60 percent by 2050, according to a draft document that puts the bloc on a collision course with the biggest polluters.
The EU is keen to inject urgency into the climate change debate ahead of an international conference in Paris at the end of this year to seek a successor to the Kyoto Protocol on curbing greenhouse gas emissions.
On Wednesday the European Commission, the EU executive, will publish a blueprint for tackling climate change.
A draft seen by Reuters confirms that EU member states aim to declare their own pledges on emissions cuts by the end of March and says other leading nations, including China and the United States, should do the same.
“In aggregate these commitments – in line with science – should put the world on track to reduce global emissions by at least 60 percent in 2050 below 2010 levels,” the document seen by Reuters says.
The EU is responsible for only around 9 percent of all emissions. The world’s biggest emitters are China, which accounts for 24 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, and the United States with 12 percent.
The EU document also proposes that the 2015 deal “should preferably be in the form of a protocol”, which is the toughest legal option. That could meet resistance from China and the United States, which are likely to prefer looser arrangements than internationally binding law.
Options in a draft negotiating text for the Paris talks range from calls by some developing nations for net zero global emissions by 2050, meaning all greenhouse gas emissions would have to be offset by projects such as planting trees, to only vague goals for limiting emissions.
5) Solar Eclipse Puts Europe’s Power Supplies At Risk
Financial Times, 24 February 2015
Pilita Clark
An eclipse of the sun next month could disrupt Europe’s power supplies because so many countries now rely on solar energy, electricity system operators have warned.
“The risk of incident cannot be completely ruled out,” the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity said on Monday, adding the eclipse on March 20 would be “an unprecedented test for Europe’s electricity system”.
“The whole of the European area is concerned either directly or indirectly,” it added, but countries with a large amount of solar power, such as Germany and Italy, are likely to be of most concern.
The network said it had been planning coordinated “countermeasures” for several months to help protect the continent’s interconnected power system from the eclipse, which is due between 08:40 and 12:50 Central European Time and should be visible across Europe.
Power system operators are planning to hold special teleconferences across Europe during the eclipse and will “resort to the usual emergency procedures to protect the system if the need arises”, the network said.
6) EU Deeply Divided Over Carbon Market Reform
Reuters, 23 February 2015
Barbara Lewis
Prospects for early reforms to prop up the EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS), the world’s biggest carbon market, hang in the balance ahead of a closely watched vote on Tuesday with members of the European Parliament divided over how soon to act.
Parliamentary sources said negotiations between rival political groups are likely to continue up to the vote at around 1400 GMT, which still needs to be followed by a plenary vote and to get the backing of member states.
An email seen by Reuters from the social democrats alliance said it could not accept a Dec. 31, 2018, date put forward as a compromise by the main centre-right group, the European People’s Party (EPP), but it might be willing to support Jan. 1, 2018 for beginning ETS reforms.
Parliamentary sources said the Greens and the ALDE liberal alliance also rejected the Dec. 31 date, but added the EPP was reluctant to shift.
Both 2018 dates are earlier than the executive European Commission’s 2021 proposal, which coal-producing Poland and energy-intensive industry say is soon enough.
