Cefic's Stand on the 2015 Global Climate Policy - Prof. pisarello, Apuntes de Derecho Administrativo

¡Descarga Cefic's Stand on the 2015 Global Climate Policy - Prof. pisarello y más Apuntes en PDF de Derecho Administrativo solo en Docsity! [Type text] June 2013 Chemistry making a world of difference European Chemical Industry Council – Cefic aisbl Avenue E. van Nieuwenhuyse 4 B - 1160 Brussels Belgium Tel: +32 2 676 72 11 Fax: +32 2 676 73 01 mail@cefic.be www.cefic.org Consultation on the 2015 International Climate Change Agreement: Shaping international climate policy beyond 2020 Cefic contribution Cefic is the forum and the voice of the chemical industry in Europe As the voice of the European chemical industry, Cefic is a committed partner to EU policymakers, facilitating dialogue with industry and sharing our broad-based expertise. The European chemical industry is a primary process industry, comprising some 29,000 companies, employing roughly 1.2 million people and directly contributing approximately €500 billion to the EU economy and €49,5 billion to the EU’s balance of trade in 2012, accounting for 20% of world chemical production. The chemical industry value chain starts by turning raw materials into basic chemical substances and into intermediates used in the production of specialty and consumer chemicals as well as high-tech materials. Based in Brussels since our founding in 1972, Cefic interacts every day on behalf of its members with international and EU institutions, non- governmental organisations, the international media, and other stakeholders. Our 640 members and affiliates form one of the most active networks of the business community, complemented by partnerships with industry associations representing various sectors in the value chain. Energy efficiency has always been high on the agenda of the European chemical sector given the importance of energy costs. Between 1990 and 2010, energy consumption fell by 20% while production climbed 70% in the same period (Figure 2-6, production index based on value in constant prices)8. This has resulted in an energy intensity decrease (energy use divided by the production index) of more than 50% (Cefic, 2012a). Despite substantial increase of 70% in production, GHG emissions have been halved since 1990 (Figure 2-7). The reduction in GHG emissions exceeds the decline in energy use as a result of shifts in the fuel mix towards less carbon intensive fuels (lowering GHG emissions, but not the energy use as such) and also because of a decline in process emissions. General messages:  The low and further shrinking of EU emissions share of the global emissions need to be taken into account in a future global climate agreement.  EU climate policy efforts and cost burdens must be proportionate to efforts and burdens in other world regions so as to avoid damages to the EU competitiveness and economic growth.  The EU negotiation mandate must not allow competitive disadvantages for i.e. EU’s energy intensive industries. [Type text] June 2013 Chemistry making a world of difference European Chemical Industry Council – Cefic aisbl Avenue E. van Nieuwenhuyse 4 B - 1160 Brussels Belgium Tel: +32 2 676 72 11 Fax: +32 2 676 73 01 mail@cefic.be www.cefic.org  Before EU sets itself further ambitious emission reduction targets, equal binding commitments must have been tabled by other major emitting regions. Accordingly, a negotiation tactic of offering a EU target ‘ex-ante’ already before the UNFCCC COPs is regarded as less effective.  In the absence of equitable, verified reduction emission efforts, carbon leakage protection measures must remain in place and be effectively improved.  In a globalised world, only globally commonly taken actions to reduce net global emissions will be successful. If carbon leakage is not avoided, perceived emission reductions may not stem from increased efficiencies but from reduced domestic manufacturing output. Disproportionate local implementation of climate policies environment can lead to relocation of investment so that goods formerly produced carbon-efficiently are being consumed through imports from carbon-intensive regions: In April 2013, the UK Climate Change Committee reported that if one takes imported carbon emissions into account the UK is responsible for 10% more emissions over the last two decades Question 1: How can the 2015 Agreement be designed to ensure that countries can pursue sustainable economic development while encouraging them to do their equitable and fair share in reducing global GHG emissions so that global emissions are put on a pathway that allows us to meet the below 2°C objective? How can we avoid a repeat of the current situation where there is a gap between voluntary pledges and the reductions that are required to keep global temperature increase below 2° C? Agreed actions to address climate change must enable economic growth and development. This can only be achieved by a transparent and thorough assessment of the effectiveness, costs induced and positive impacts of climate policies over the economy and society at large. Accordingly, the traditional discrimination of developing and developed countries from 1992 must be removed. The ghg emission shares, current trends and emission reduction commitments must be proportionate to technology potentials and to the desirable global emission reductions effect. Accordingly, the negotiation procedure should aim at effective global emission reduction. Once emission goals have been agreed, a mechanism needs to ensure enough flexibility to adapt the agreed goals to the countries’ dynamic economic developments, growth, technological breakthroughs, etc. ghg emission reduction efforts need to be verifiable and comparable. Negotiations could possibly progress more quickly if major emitting regions and sectors were the first to implement effective, comparable, jointly agreed emission reduction commitments. The EU chemical industry can be instrumental in this supporting this process through technology solutions. A workable, economic growth-oriented global emission trading scheme could be a major instrument towards the transition to a global low carbon economy. [Type text] June 2013 Chemistry making a world of difference European Chemical Industry Council – Cefic aisbl Avenue E. van Nieuwenhuyse 4 B - 1160 Brussels Belgium Tel: +32 2 676 72 11 Fax: +32 2 676 73 01 mail@cefic.be www.cefic.org Cefic, acknowledged Observer of the UNFCCC, strongly supports the Convention as the focal point for international action on climate change. It must act as the central point for the collection and analysis of emissions inventories, supported by expert review. The 2015 agreement should further promote market-based mechanisms, it must develop further CDM and new market mechanisms to enable both the environmental integrity of credits used for compliance to be verified as well as to avoid double-counting. The aim should be global emission reductions where global carbon trading is a key tool towards cost-efficient emission reductions. Question 7: How could the 2015 Agreement further improve transparency and accountability of countries internationally? To what extent will an accounting system have to be standardised globally? How should countries be held accountable when they fail to meet their commitments? Regular reporting of inventory data must become mandatory for the larger emerging nations under the 2015 Agreement. This will enable improved transparency of actions. To enable comparability, a standardised verifiable accounting system is vital. Question 8: How could the UN climate negotiating process be improved to better support reaching an inclusive, ambitious, effective and fair 2015 Agreement and ensuring its implementation? A wide stakeholder participation and a transparent process are necessary to ensure the agreement is reached and implemented. Industry can be a useful partner in this process. Companies and sectors can offer their expertise to the climate negotiations on effective ways to reduce emissions and develop solutions for sustainable development. At the same time, focus should be put on biggest emitting regions, involving major sectors, in order to make faster progress. It is anticipated that the chemical industry will be required to take many of the actions that will enable emissions reductions through technology solutions in nations, economic sectors. Industry offers advice in the decision-making process e.g. to ensure that targets are achievable. Such engagement should be organised in a more formal process gathering appropriate advice. Question 9: [Type text] June 2013 Chemistry making a world of difference European Chemical Industry Council – Cefic aisbl Avenue E. van Nieuwenhuyse 4 B - 1160 Brussels Belgium Tel: +32 2 676 72 11 Fax: +32 2 676 73 01 mail@cefic.be www.cefic.org How can the EU best invest in and support processes and initiatives outside the Convention to pave the way for an ambitious and effective 2015 agreement? The European Union should focus, in parallel to the UNFCCC process, on processes such as the Major Economies Forum and the G20 that could have an impact on the reduction of emissions in the developed and emerging countries. Furthermore, the interaction between trading schemes and their ultimate linkage has the potential to develop a global carbon price that will assist in protecting competitiveness. The EU should showcase successful voluntary agreements in operation in member states that promote industrial energy and ghg efficiency.