Švédské předsednictví v Radě EU: Ministr životního prostředí Andreas Carlgren jede do Číny hovořit o klimatu

Minister for the Environment Andreas Carlgren is to visit Beijing, China, on 11–14 July 2009. The visit is being made in his capacity as Chair of the EU Environment Council and together with the European Commission and the forthcoming Presidency, Spain. This is the first visit made by the EU Troika for discussions on the bilateral climate negotiations during the Swedish Presidency.

The delegation will hold bilateral talks both with the Head of Chinaʼs Climate Change and Coordinating Committee, Xie Zhenhua, and Minister of Environmental Protection Zhou Shengxian.

These talks will take place a few days after China, together with other major economies at the Major Economies Forum, agreed that global temperatures would be allowed to rise a maximum of 2º C compared with pre-industrial levels.

“The agreement is a first, necessary – although not sufficient – step towards the major UN climate conference in Copenhagen. The industrialised countries have a particular responsibility to lead the way and make large emissions reductions, but rapidly growing economies must also contribute significantly to emissions reductions for us to be able to achieve the two-degree target. China is a key country for a global climate agreement,” says Mr Carlgren ahead of his trip.

The EU and China will also discuss technology transfer. The world’s countries have a joint responsibility to sever the link between development and emissions. The EU has proposed that Low Carbon Development Strategies should be produced by all developing countries and serve as the basis of these countries’ future efforts.

“The EU urges China to take responsibility for emission reduction measures that will be included in a future agreement, but we will also draw attention to the potential of cooperation, with technology transfer and development as a main issue in climate efforts.”