For a fair, ambitious and legal binding deal in Cancun

We, as European Greens, call on all negotiators attending the climate conference in Cancun (COP16) to redouble their efforts and get the talks back on track. We call on them to make the urgent progress necessary in order to reach a strong, fair and legally binding post-2012 global agreement.

We are very disappointed and frustrated by the outcome of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15) held in Copenhagen, Denmark, in December 2009, which fell far short of expectations. The main outcome, the Copenhagen Accord, has been justifiably criticised both for the way it was drafted and its contents.

Clearly, the accord falls far short of what is necessary in a number of areas. The goal of the negotiations - to deliver a binding international treaty (or treaties) with emissions reduction targets of sufficient ambitious to prevent dangerous global warming - must be maintained.

Annex 1 must reaffirm their political and legal commitment and global partnership made under the Kyoto Protocol to combat climate change and to address existing deficiencies in the implementation of the Convention. Annex 1 must also acknowledge that the largest share of historical global emissions of greenhouse gases has originated in developed countries and that they therefore must take the lead in combating climate change and its adverse effects.

The Copenhagen Accord recognises the goal of the scientific consensus to limit the increase in global average temperature to below 2°C and the need for a review in 2015 to consider a possible goal of a maximum temperature rise of 1.5°C. Nevertheless, the emissions pledges which are currently on the table fall far short of what is necessary to achieve this goal. We call upon all countries, especially industrialised countries, to observe the precautionary principle as described in article 3 of the The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Considering the scientific uncertainty regarding climatic tipping points and the relatively high chance of exceeding 2°C even if the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recommendations are followed, precautionary measures must be agreed to reduce industrialised countries' emissions at the high end of IPCC recommendations, 40% by 2020 and 95% by 2050 below 1990 levels. Global emissions must be reduced by 80% by 2050 below 1990 levels.

Furthermore, all countries must increase their efforts in order to ensure atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations are rapidly reduced to 350ppm and stay below this level in the long term so as not to exceed a temperature rise of 1.5°C.

In order to ensure measures to achieve the above targets are credible, Annex 1 must strictly limit the use of offsetting, agree not to bank surplus assigned amount units (AAUs), and agree to rules on how to account for emissions from land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) that ensure the environmental integrity of their emissions reduction targets.

The UNFCCC negotiations must also lead to an agreement to ensure that industrialised countries take all practicable steps to make available technical resources including compulsory licensing or any alternative tool to intellectual property rights if necessary in order to enable Non Annex I countries to undertake country-level needs assessments and to develop specific capacity-building activities. Such transfers should not include nuclear technology, or other technologies which harm people or the environment. Neither is Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) a viable option fortransfers and must not legitimise the construction of new coal power plants, since there is no proof that it matches the environmental and economical requirements necessary.

Adequate financial support must be transferred to developing countries based on the principles of additionality, sufficiency, predictability and equity. The decision by industrialised countries to commit $30 billion to 'fast start' climate financing for non-industrialised countries from 2010-12 was one positive outcome of the COP15. The EU has committed to contribute €2.4bn per year from 2010-12. It is vital that this is new funding and is additional to existing commitments on official development aid. It is regrettable that this seems not to be the case for much of the funds pledged so far.

Regarding long-term climate financing, the figure mentioned in the Copenhagen Accord of $100 billion per annum from 2020 on is far below the $600bn estimated as necessary by the 2009 UN- Department of Economic and Social Affairs report. We therefore call upon industrialised countries to commit to the recommended new and additional $600bn.

Industrialized countries must also guarantee that the money is available in time. This should not be made dependent on the success or failure of the international carbon market. While this money has to be public with private money being additional, we support a generation of funds based on each country's responsibility and capability. More money should come from the revenues of a tax on financial transactions.

There must be a mechanism to enable the mobilisation of financial resources from developed countries for reducing emissions from deforestation, forest degradation, forest conservation, sustainable management of forest and the enhancement of forest carbon stocks, financed by a UN managed fund and not a market mechanism. These measures must not harm or decrease levels of biodiversity and must also consider economic, social, indigenous, cultural and environmental needs of local populations and in particular indigenous peoples.

Considering adaptation, Parties to the UNFCCC must prioritise highly vulnerable areas such as small islands, Least Developed Countries and many African countries. To do this, there must be capacity building programs for adaptation.

In order to rapidly reduce CO2e emissions, peaking no later than 2015, we are in favour of strengthening cap and trade systems as a short term solution. Credits should be auctioned as widely as possible, and the auction profits should be used to compensate for rising energy bills by supporting energy efficiency improvements and income transfers to lowest income groups. In the long run we are in favour of a progressive and equitable tax and dividend system whereby fossil fuels are taxed at source or at entry to a market with a 100% dividend paid to all citizens equally. Setting a price to carbon would lead to a progressive and regulated rise in fossil energy prices which would foster Research and Development in renewable energies, energy efficiency and energy savings. Governments must also discontinue all subsidies to carbon and nuclear industries.

In conclusion, the decision making process should be opened up to include stakeholders who will shoulder the burden of future consequences. Youth can provide invaluable perspectives to the climate change debate and their involvement contributes to the broader empowerment of young people. We therefore demand that governments include youth in their delegations through cooperation with National Youth Councils, Young NGOs,UN agencies and other youth groups and allow youth to meaningfully participate in the decision making processes as outlined in several UNGA resolutions.

We will continue to fight for a fair, ambitious and legally binding deal.

Abbreviations and acronyms:

AAU - Assigned Amount Units
AOSIS - Alliance of Small Island States
CO2e – Carbon Dioxide equivalent
COP – Conference Of Parties
EGP – European Green Party
EU – European Union EU
ETS - Emission Trading Scheme
FYEG – Federation of Young European Greens
LULUCF – Land Use Land Use Change and Forestry
R&D – research and development
OPEC – Oil Producing Exporting Countries
UN – United Nations
UNFCCC – United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
UN GA – United Nations General Assembly

Further information:
UNFCCC process: http://unfccc.int/2860.php IPCC science: http://www.ipcc.ch/

Download the complete resolution in PDF format here...