EU climate change mitigation and adaptation plan

The European Union Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Plan

NSTDA Annual Conference on

Science and Technology for our Society and Planet

Veronique LorenzoCounsellorEuropean Union Delegation to Thailand

29 March 2010

Outline

�Climate Change: Threats �The EU’s ambition: Limiting climate change

to 2ºC�The European Union Policy�EU Cooperation with partner countries

Climate Change: a threat for our planet

The scientific evidence

IPCC 4th Assessment Report 2007:

� Global atmospheric concentrations of CO 2, CH4and N 2O have increased markedly as a result of human activities since 1750.

� Increases in CO 2 are due primarily to fossil fuel use and land-use change, increases in CH 4 and N 2O are primarily due to agriculture.

� Most of the observed increase in globally averaged temperatures since the mid-20 th century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations

The global objective

�� Limiting global average temperature increase to 2ºC compared to pre-industrial levels

�� The heart of the EU political programme:• Lisbon strategy for growth and employment• Technological innovation• Research and development• Competitiveness • Energy security

The policy response : a two tracks approach

1. Mitigation: Limit the emissions of GHGs

2. Adaptation: Cope with the inevitable impacts of climate change

GHGs emissions mitigation

�� Moving towards a low-carbon economy

� Conserve energy (energy-efficient equipments, syste ms, buildings) and use all renewable energies in all se ctors

� Appropriate energy infrastructure investment decisi ons, which have long term effects on emissions

� Changes in lifestyle and behaviour patterns, especi ally in building, transport and industrial sectors

� Better management of land use (deforestation)� Effective carbon price signal to create incentives to invest in

low-GHG products, technologies and processes� Appropriate incentives for development and transfer s of

technologies

The EU Climate Change and Energy Package

� January 2007: fully integrated policy package cover ing both climate change and energy policies:� “Limiting Global Climate Change to 2°C: The way ahe ad

for the EU and the World for 2020 and beyond”� “An Energy Policy for Europe”

� January 2008: the Climate Change and Energy Package :� 20% GHG reduction compared to 1990 (unilateral comm itment)� 30% GHG reduction compared to 1990 (In the context of

international agreement)� 20% share of renewable energy in the overall energy

consumption� 20% increase in energy efficiency by 2020

� Legislation agreed in December 2008� Entry into force: 25 June 2009

The Package at a glance

Carbon capture and storage Directive

CO2& Cars

Renewable Energy Directive

Fuel Quality Directive

technology specific &

product policies

cross-sectoral

targets & instrumentslarge industrial installations & aviation

“small sources”

EU ETS

Effort SharingDecision

The EU ETS’s extended scope

� Scope 2005-2012:

� Sectors: Power generation and industrial sectors (steel and iron, cement, lime, ceramics, paper, glass)

� Gases: CO2, opt-in of N2O

� Extended scope as from 2013:

� New sectors: Aluminium, basic chemicals production and aviation (from 2012)

� New gases: PFC from aluminium production, N2O from certain chemicals production

� Possible inclusion of maritime transport if no agre ement in the International Maritime Organisation

Gradient: -1.74%

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024

-21% vs 2005

�Linear factor to be reviewed by 2025�Aviation to be included; will change figures corres pondingly, but cap not reduced�Disclaimer: all figures are provisional and do not account for new sectors in third period

Primary feature of the new ETS: A robust EU-wide cap

Harmonised Allocation Rules

� Auctioning is default allocation method� For the power sector as from 2013 (>50% of allowances)� Limited derogation available for 10 new MS

� Transitional free allocation� Benchmarks (average of 10% most efficient installations in (sub)sector)� General benchmark approach (one product – one benchmark)

� Allocations determined ex-ante, no ex-post adjustment

� Taking into account most efficient techniques, high efficiency cogeneration, efficient energy use of waste gases etc

� Phasing out free allocation for sectors not exposed to risk of carbon leakage � 80% in 2013 – 30% in 2020 – 0% in 2027

� Free allocation for sectors proned to “Carbon leakag es”

Credits from third countries

� Role of offset credits � Provide additional means to comply with targets within the EU� Build capacity for cap-and-trade in less developed countries –

but at least 50 % of reduction effort compared to 2005 needs to be within the EU

� Quality � Projects should bring real emission reductions and benefits to

sustainable development� The Commission and the Member States can decide that credits

from certain types of projects are not to be accepted for compliance purposes in the EU ETS

� Take account of international agreement and reform of CDM

EU Effort Sharing Decision

� ~ 60% of the EU GHG emissions� Implementation through national and EU

measures (energy efficiency standards, CO2 & cars, energy labeling of equipment and appliances)

� Key elements:� Binding annual targets in 2013-2020� Strict reporting obligations for Member States � Annual compliance check for period 2013-2020� Member States subject to corrective action if non-

compliance

Principles determining national targets

� NOT based on marginal abatement costs/reduction potentials, but:

� Principle of fairness and growth� National emission reduction targets determined as a function of

GDP/capita for Member States (MS)� MS with high GDP/capita to reduce emissions (in relation to

2005 emissions)� MS with low GDP/capita may increase emissions

� Average reduction for EU27 in Non ETS is -10% by 2020 compared to 2005:� No reduction of more than 20%� No increase of more than 20%

Climate Change Adaptation

�April 2009: White Paper for Adaptation Measures and Policies�Solid scientific and economic analysis for

decision making�Information exchange�Mainstreaming adaptation�National and regional approaches

Climate Change Adaptation

Working together!

�Lack of capacity in developing countries to deal with the changes

�Historical responsibility from developed countries

�ODA at risks�EU unilateral action will not solve the

climate issue!

Cooperation with developing countries

�Mainstreaming Climate Change�Impacts of the project on CC �Impacts of CC on the project

�Stand alone programmes�Environmental projects/programmes to

respond to the problem of climate change

Thailand – EC Cooperation on Climate change

� Thailand EC Cooperation Facility II� advance Thailand's constructive dialogue and cooper ation with

the European Union in the field of science and tech nology and also environment, climate change and energy

� Demand-driven approach: competitive Calls for Propo sals� Policy Support Component through Technical Assistan ce

� 1 Call for Proposals with ONE deadline on 25 May 2010 with total EU funding of €2.4 million.

� Policy Support Component through Technical Assistance

For more information on the CfP, consult the Guidelines for Applicants: http://www.deltha.ec.europa.eu/home.htm


�SWITCH Programme�Promotion of Sustainable Consumption &

Production in Asia�Thailand Policy Support Component (2

Million €) – under preparation in cooperation with NESDB

Scoping study for capacity building needs for MRV of GHG emissions and mitigation activities� a) exploring the needs of developing countries as r egards

monitoring, reporting and verification of emissions and the development of greenhouse gases mitigation actions, and b) providing concrete recommendations on the struct ure and elements of a capacity building program to be implemented between 2011 and 2013-2014.

� Thailand via the Thailand Greenhouses Gas Organisat ion(TGO) has expressed interest in participating



�7th Framework Programme (FP7):�Funding of € 53 billion during 2007-2013�Articulated along 5 Programmes�opportunities for collaborative research in several

key thematic areas including Environment and Climate change (€1.9 billion earmarked)

�Call for Proposals� NSTDA is the focal point for Thailand

�Official FP7 website :http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/home_en.html

Conclusions

�Climate Change: an opportunity!�Comprehensive and global action is

crucial�Financing for mitigation and adaptation

essential�EU’s commitment to multilateral

negotiations is intact!

Thank you!

For more information:�http://ec.europa.eu/environment/clima

t/climate_action.htm

�Delegation of the European Union to Thailand