In the follow-up to the Copenhagen conference, and taking into account the UN climate negotiations that took place in Bonn from 31 May to 11 June, ministers will examine the possibility of stepping up the EU's commitment from 20 % to 30 % reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in 2020.

Ahead of the next UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which will take place from 29 November to 10 December in Cancún (Mexico), the EU remains fully committed to continuing to negotiate with other parties, in order to secure a comprehensive legally binding agreement ensuring that the average global temperature increase remains less than 2°C above pre-industrial levels.

The EU already has legislation in place - the energy-climate package - that will ensure by 2020 a 20 % cut in emissions compared with 1990 levels. Developed countries have committed themselves in the Copenhagen Accord - a political declaration negotiated during the Copenhagen Conference in December 2009 - to providing resources to developing countries approaching USD 30 billion in the period 2010-2012, with a balanced allocation between adaptation and mitigation actions and with a special emphasis on vulnerable and least developed countries (the so-called "fast start financing"). The EU and its member states also committed to contribute their fair share, amounting to EUR 2.4 billion annually over the same period.

Furthermore, the EU also made a conditional offer of a 30 % emissions reduction, provided there were comparable reductions by other developed countries and appropriate contributions by developing countries. For this purpose it is necessary to assess the comparability of the quantified emissions targets of developing countries for 2020, as well as the adequacy of appropriate national mitigation actions by developing countries.

Event:

The meeting of the Environment Council will take place in the Conference Centre-FIL, Luxembourg, beginning at 10.00.

The presidency will hold a briefing in the Council press room in Brussels a few days before the meeting.