EU negotiating plan for Paris to back long term goal, 2C target

Ed King is tracking the rumors leading up to a key EU Environment Council meeting Friday, where the group will release a report outlining the EU bloc’s position for COP21. According to King:

Europe’s playbook for December’s UN climate talks in Paris this December – due out on Friday – will contain few shocks, a UK government source said on Wednesday.

The 28-country strong bloc is likely to reiterate its desire for a deal limiting warming to below 2C above pre industrial levels, and call for a long term carbon cutting goal.

Countries are also supportive of regular five-yearly reviews, where progress on carbon cuts and green growth can be assessed and potentially ramped up.

We’ll find out if he’s right (fingers crossed!) in the next 24 hours - but you can do more than just wait. Our Tree AlertTree Alert, ‘EU pressured to champion key elements for strong Paris outcome‘ has links to twitter handles for key ministers so you can keep the heat on!

For more on the EU, Friday’s meeting and the bloc’s role in the lead-up to Paris - EurActiv has a piece on how the timing of EU negotiations leave little room for COP21 diplomacy.

BBC looks at the Conservative Briton at helm of European Parliament’s carbon debate, and how the spectre of Copenhagen still haunts some EU diplomats.

And Nick Mabey, Barbara Unmüßig and Ralf Fücks make the case that if the EU is serious about an ambitious agreement at the UN talks in Paris, it must prioritize adaptation and resilience to climate risk in the negotiations.