Details

Under the framework of the adoption of the Paris Agreement, the Conference of Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) invited the IPCC to establish a special report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways. This report shall be published on the 10th of October 2018 and shall draw attention to the urgency of a collective global response to the threat of climate change. In addition, the Talanoa Dialogue is meant to support countries to implement and enhance their Nationally Determined Contributions by 2020. A meaningful political outcome is a commitment by all governments to reflect on their national efforts and level of ambition, taking into account latest scientific evidence and available solutions and technologies.

Throughout the past year the EU often raised its voice in support of the Paris Agreement, claiming further leader-ship and forging new ways of how to frame its climate and energy policies. With its new climate and energy framework, which sets three key targets until 2030, aiming at reducing GHG emission by at least 40% (from 1990 levels), increase the share of renewable energy in its total energy mix by 32% and improve energy efficiency by 32,5%, the EU demonstrates its engagement to accelerate global climate action. The long term goal of creating a competitive and low-carbon economy by mid-century is set. The European private sector is willing to follow the EU´s agenda, since it is aware of the various innovation capacities, but expects a stable regulation framework.

The EU wants to continue its global leadership on climate action and is preparing a long term emission reduction strategy. But only together and in joint action with other important players in the field, global climate action will be successful in delivering its goals from the Paris Agreement. This will mean coordinated partnerships, solid domestic policies and measures, far reaching strategies and incentive structures which will enable the governments in pursuing their national determined contributions by setting predictable and certain frameworks for public and economic actors. Thus, it is crucial to involve all actors, and to collaborate especially with the most significant states in the field of emission reductions. For instance, the EU needs to cooperate with US actors that comprise US federal states, companies, mayors and NGOs, which are committed to climate action, and Asian counterparts such as China and India. The latter ones show different approaches in delivering on climate action goals. India wants to become leader in e-mobility. The government´s new ambitious policies target for a sole use of electric cars by 2030. China, on the other hand, is willing to step up its efforts to advance the implementation of the Paris Agreement. In July the EU and China agreed to intensify their cooperation on climate change and clean energy.

International uncertainties reveal the urgency to rethink the strategy on climate diplomacy and to proactively support the Talanoa dialogue process and to ensure efficient policies decisions at COP24 and create further international partnerships towards sustainable climate action.

What should the EU`s stance be in the face of the current political situation? How can the EU engage international partners to set robust domestic policies and measures, long term strategies and concrete incentive structures for climate action? How can continuous climate action be assured in face of the upcoming Brexit and the current political situation in other EU member states? Which new partnerships can forge alliances which may successfully counteract climate change and at the same time impact world economies positively?

Agenda (draft)

CONFERENCE

EU´s leadership in global climate action

Opportunities for international cooperation in preview of COP 24

09:00Welcoming Remarks (5 min)

•Ms Ioana-Adina VĂLEAN MEP | Chair of the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety | European Parliament

09:05Key note (10 min)

EU commitment on climate action in preview of COP24

•Mr Miguel Arias CAÑETE | Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, Eu-ropean Commission

09:15Welcome speech (10 min)

Polish commitment on climate action beyond COP24

•Hon. Mr Michał KURTYKA | Vice-Minister of Environment of the Polish Gov-ernment and President of COP24 | Poland (tbc)

09:25Panel I (60 min)

Before and beyond COP24 in Poland - What has been achieved in international climate negotiations so far? How should the EU´s long term strategy look like?

The panel will give an overview of the European state of affairs and offer insights from governments and industry from the UK, Poland and Germany. Europe has decided on the European Trading Scheme (ETS), adjusted its climate and energy framework and is on track with other relevant policies. What are EU priorities for the upcoming legislative term? Where are prospects for growth?

Introduction notes (20 min)

UK commitment on climate action beyond COP24

•Mr Dr Kevin ANDERSON, Deputy Director | Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research | University of Manchester, United Kingdom

Interventions (40 min)

•Ms Dr Joanna MAĆKOWIAK-PANDERA | President, Forum Energii, Poland

•Ms/Mr N.N. | BEIS | Government, United Kingdom (tbc)

•Mr Julian SCHORPP | Member of the Committee for Energy & Environment | Eurochambres, Belgium

•Mr Dr Joachim HEIN | Advisor Energy & Climate Policy | BDI e.V., Germany

•Mr Axel EGGERT | Director General | EUROFER, Belgium

10:25Q & A Session (30 min)

Chaired & moderated by

•Philipp OFFENBERG | Policy Analyst | European Political Strategy Centre, European Commission, Belgium

10:55Coffee Break (20 min)

11:15Panel II (60 min)

Forging new partnerships in global climate action

International public-private cooperation in climate action is crucial for future economic prosperity. Only a common global action with respective legislative framework and joint efforts can guarantee the well-being of environment and economy for the good of all. The panel will offer views from the US, China and India.

Interventions

•Mr Dr Michael A. MEHLING | Deputy Director of Center for Energy and Envi-ronmental Policy Research | Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA

•Mr David GARGARO| Energy Fellow | Rainey Center, USA

•Mr Dr Nitya NANDA | Associate Director | Resource Efficiency & Governance | TERI, India

•Mr Dr Kejun JIANG | Senior Researcher China | Energy Research Institute | National Development and Reform Commission, China (video call)

•Mr Shang ZHEN | Counsellor & legal adviser of the Chinese Mission to the EU, Belgium

12:15Q & A Session (30 min)

Chaired & moderated by

•Mr Jacob WERKSMAN | Principal Advisor of Director General for Climate Ac-tion | DG CLIMA, European Commission

12:45Closing remarks

•Mr Johannes HÜGEL |Coordinator for Climate and Energy | Multinational Development Policy Dialogue, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung

12:50Lunch Buffet