EU-US Summit, 30 April 2007

The EU and the US met on April 30^th 2007, producing a Statement on ‘Energy Security, Efficiency and Climate Change’

Positive

• The recent work of the IPCC is acknowledged.
• market-based instruments are explicitly mentioned as one of “a wide range of policy instruments” required to “significantly cut net global emissons of greenhouse gases” (however, the word ‘net’ does not necessarily imply reductions in emissions, rather can include significant sequestration activities which may play a role in overall efforts to combat climate change, but do not deliver the needed shift in energy consumption patterns).
• Listed after clean coal and CCS improving energy efficiency in buildings, transport and appliances sectors is a “key priority”.
• “possible cooperation on the use of minimum efficiency requirements” and cooperation on energy efficiency in buildings were included.

Less positive

•   “We will work together and with other nations to deliver results in our global efforts to confront climate change through the upcoming G8 summit…multilateral partnerships and by promoting a constructive agenda for the UNFCCC Conference in Indonesia…” (This is very weak language where what is required is agreement to launch of negotiations on a post 2012 agreement in 2007, to be completed in 2009.).
• nuclear energy listed as a means, for those for whom it is acceptable, to improve energy security and reduce emissions. (Nuclear is not a safe or cost effective solution).
•   “promoting advanced coal technologies” is listed before energy efficiency and renewables in the descriptions of what the EU and US are doing on each of the issues. This section is also twice the length of the ones on renewables and efficiency.
• The US’s contribution, at the Federal level, to the world of renewables is limited to lots of biofuels. There is nothing on electricity or heating and cooling or other specific renewables technologies.
• Renewables as a whole take back seat to second generation biofuels as a “key priority”, not even meriting a bullet point of their own.
• Cooperation on energy efficiency in third countries is there “to promote our mutual energy security” rather than any language on development, emissions reductions etc.

Absent:

Just about anything of real worth on climate

• No commitment to limiting global average temperature increases to 2ºC.
• No mention of any post 2012 agreement being needed.
• No commitment to launching negotiations in 2007.
• No long term target or any other indication of levels of commitment other than “stabilisation of GHG concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system”.

A meeting is planned between senior officials, business leaders and scientific and technical experts focusing on the priority areas of this Statement. No date has yet been fixed.

EU-Japan Summit, 5 June 2007

Following the EU-Canada Summit on the 4^th of June, the EU and Japan held their Summit on the 5^th, just days before the G8 Summit in Heiligendamm. The Joint statement covered several areas, including climate change and energy.

Positive:

• “Summit leaders are united in their commitment to contribute to the resolution of global challenges including global climate change and the question of energy security” .
• “urgent and strong action is needed”.
• “the EU and Japan are committed to take strong leadership towards the development of a fair, flexible, effective and comprehensive UN post-2012 framework that ensures the participation of all major emitting countries”.
•   “…the G8 process including the Gleneagles dialogue, and other fora, provide valuable platforms to constructively engage with key energy consuming and greenhouse gas emitting countries with a view to support UN negotiations for a comprehensive framework agreement.” (This demonstrates Japan and the EU’s continuing commitment to the UN process, despite recent attempts by the US to divert attention from this international framework).
•    “A new international strategy on energy efficiency will be developed in close cooperation with the IEA.” (Energy efficiency will be a key component of the Japanese Presidency of the G8 in 2008, and an international agreement is also an idea raised in the EU’s Energy Efficiency Action Plan, from October 2006).

 Less positive:

•   “The UN climate change conference in Bali at the end of 2007 has crucial importance... Negotiations for a post-2012 framework should be completed as early as possible to avoid a gap after 2012.” (No specific start or end dates are defined. In CAN’s view, negotiations must be launched in Bali in December 2007 and a new agreement be reached by 2009. However, the agreement that there should be no gap in commitment periods is more positive).
•   “Summit leaders are united in the view that a long-term goal for reducing global GHG emission by half or more by the year 2050 needs to be established.” (No base year has been defined. To be compatible with emissions trajectories consistent with keeping global average temperatures as far below 2ºC as possible, a  -50% global target for 2050 requires a 1990 baseline).