Stakeholder conference on post-2012 climate change agreement

Over 200 representatives from public authorities, business community, research organisations and NGOs from developed and developing countries were present to share their views on the key elements of a global post-2012 climate regime (see agenda of the event).

The stakeholder conference has allowed different views to be exchanged and discussed, in particular concerning the themes of the three working group sessions.

The conference was opened by Artur Runge-Metzger, Head of Climate Strategy, International Negotiation and Monitoring of EU Action unit of DG Environment, outlining the political background of the conference taking into account state of international climate negotiations, link to the EU climate policies and recent financial crisis. This was followed by address from French climate change ambassador Brice Lalonde, who gave the EU Presidency's views towards a comprehensive and ambitious post-2012 international climate change agreement. After that Professor Stefan Rahmstorf from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research presented an update on the scientific findings since the IPCC's 4th Assessment Report has been published.

Following the opening plenary, three parallel working groups were held in order to consider in more detail mitigation commitments by developed countries, appropriate mitigation actions by developing countries and adaptation to climate change.

Each working group opened with presentations from representing the views of different stakeholder groups before the floor was opened for debate.

Working group I on mitigation commitments by developed countries:

Jaroslaw Pietras, Council of the European Union
Nick Campbell, BusinessEurope
Matthias Duwe, CAN-Europe
Bert Metz, European Climate Foundation

Working group II on appropriate mitigation actions by developing countries:

Navroz Dubash, Jawaharlal Nehru University, India
Beom-Sik Yoo, Prime Minister's Office, Korea
Stephan Singer, WWF International
MJ Mace, independent consultant

Working group III on adaptation to climate change:

Richard J.T. Klein, Stockholm Environment Institute
Esko Kivisaari, Federation of Finnish Financial Services
Saleemul Huq, International Institute for Environment and Development
Amjad Abdulla, Ministry of Environment, Energy and Water, Maldives

At the closing plenary session, the Chairs of each Working Groups gave short presentations summarizing the views expressed during the respective debates.

Summary WG I mitigation commitments by developed countries
Summary WG II mitigation actions by developing countries
Summary WG III adaptation to climate change

The Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas concluded the conference.

The Commission wishes to thank all those who attended the stakeholder conference.

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