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Climate Action
News article25 February 2015Directorate-General for Climate Action

EU sets out vision for Paris agreement alongside Energy Union strategy

The European Commission has set out the EU's vision for the new global climate change agreement due to be adopted in Paris in December. The Communication, "The Paris Protocol - a blueprint for tackling global climate change beyond 2020”, is part of..

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The European Commission has set out the EU's vision for the new global climate change agreement due to be adopted in Paris in December. The Communication, "The Paris Protocol - a blueprint for tackling global climate change beyond 2020”, is part of the EU’s Energy Union package unveiled by the Commission today. As well as securing Europe's energy supply, ensuring affordable and competitive energy and an integrated energy system, the strategy also aims to tackle climate change through the transition to a low-carbon, climate-friendly economy.

In October 2014, EU leaders agreed a domestic 2030 greenhouse gas reduction target of at least 40% along with the other main building blocks of the 2030 policy framework. This target will be the European Union’s contribution to the new global climate change agreement. The EU is currently finalising its intended nationally determined contribution ("INDC"), which it will submit to the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) by the end of March.

In Paris, this December, the EU is seeking a transparent and dynamic legally binding agreement, containing fair and ambitious commitments from all Parties based on evolving global economic and geopolitical circumstances. Collectively, these commitments − based on scientific evidence − should put the world on track to reduce global emissions by at least 60% below 2010 levels by 2050.

Miguel Arias Cañete, Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy said: "Let's get down to work. Today we have set the course for a connected, integrated and secure energy market in Europe. Now, let's make it happen. Our path to real energy security and climate protection begins here at home."

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Details

Publication date
25 February 2015
Author
Directorate-General for Climate Action