Greenpeace reaction to EU environment ministers' meeting following Copenhagen climate summit

Press release - December 22, 2009
Reacting to today’s discussion on climate change policy at a meeting of EU environment ministers in Brussels, Greenpeace EU climate policy director Joris den Blanken said: “It is time to rethink the international politics of climate change. The so-called Copenhagen accord, which wasn’t even formally adopted, contains no legally binding targets and no indication of when or how they will be met. The EU’s ‘back seat’ negotiating tactics were unable to deliver an agreement in Copenhagen that even comes close to what is needed to keep climate change in check.”

He continued:

"The EU should urgently revise its strategy and take a lead in addressing the shortfalls of the current politics of climate change at the UN. Instead of grabbing the chance to lead negotiations in Copenhagen with a bold upgrade of its positions and by proactively seeking alliances with progressive countries, the EU simply watched and waited from the sidelines. Europe was left scrambling to find out what was going on over its head between China and the US, having seemingly forgotten its leading role in the adoption of the Kyoto protocol and in bringing the US to the negotiating table."

"After years of struggle for the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty and its promise of renewed political vigour for the EU on the international scene, Europe has so far failed to live up to its expectations. If it wants to save the world from a climate crisis, the EU must put an end to its leadership crisis first."

Notes:

For a preliminary evaluation of the Copenhagen summit, see: http://www.greenpeace.org/raw/content/international/press/reports/cop15-assessment.pdf

For a final evaluation of the environmental record of the Swedish presidency, please go to: http://www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/press-centre/policy-papers-briefings/evaluation-swedish-presidency-22-12-09

For a reactive statement on discussions at the environment Council on the so-called chemical cocktail effect, go to: http://www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/press-centre/press-releases2/ministers-worried-about-chemical-cocktails-22-12-09

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