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EU climate finance roadmap ‘not possible’ in Doha

28 Nov 2012 17:42 GMT
EU climate finance roadmap 'not possible' in Doha

Brussels, 28 November (Argus) — The EU will not set firm interim targets to help it deliver its share of $100bn/yr in funding by 2020, promised by developed countries for adaptation to and mitigation of climate change in the developing world, EU climate action commissioner Connie Hedegaard said today.

An EU roadmap outlining climate financing will not be possible, Hedegaard said. "That will not be doable in Doha. That does not mean that you will not see a number of countries that actually come up with something in Doha. You will get good messages from a number of European countries and also from the European Commission," she said.

Climate finance has emerged as a major point of contention at UN climate change talks in Doha, Qatar (Cop 19), and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have warned that if the issue is not resolved, it could lead to a deadlock. Developing countries have said they will only move forward with the Durban platform for enhanced action if they get the results they want on climate finance, including a roadmap to 2020 with a mid-term target. Around one year after Cop 18 agreed the Green Climate Fund (GCF) as the main financing vehicle for climate adaptation and mitigation, the fund is yet to be capitalised.

"We know that we have to come up with more money. We know that we have to bridge to the long-term financing amount of $100bn by 2020. Everybody is very much aware of that," Hedegaard said.

On the issue of a carry-over and use of assigned amount units (AAUs) in a second Kyoto protocol commitment period, Hedegaard reiterated that such a carry-over must only apply to countries that take on a Quantified Emission Limitation and Reduction Objective (QELRO) under the treaty.

"Any carry-over of AAUs will not affect the ambition level of the EU climate and energy legislation for 2020, since this does not allow for the use of surplus AAUs for compliance purposes," Hedegaard said.

"None of our member states can use AAUs. And if AAUs are only for those who take on a second commitment period, then I hope we can get this question into the right perspective and get it viewed with the proportion that it deserves."

Any decision taken on AAUs must treat EU and non-EU countries "equally and without discrimination", she said.

Hedegaard also said that no time should be wasted on climate back-trackers in Doha. The international climate talks must also rise to meet the "huge" challenge of closing the ambition gap, including in the short term, she said.

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