Highlights

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On 10 October Environment ministers agreed on the EU stance for crucial international climate talks coming up in Durban, South Africa, in late November.

The European Union is calling for a single legally-binding instrument to rein in global warming. However, it is open to considering an extension of the current Kyoto Protocol, due to expire in 2012, for a limited transition period.

The 1997 Kyoto Protocol sets carbon targets only for industrialised countries, whereas the EU wants an outcome that engages all major economies. It considers that cutting greenhouse gas emissions worldwide is necessary to prevent the most severe impacts of climate change.

The EU has long been at the forefront of international climate efforts. For instance, it is currently implementing its unilateral commitment to cut its emissions by at least 20% of 1990 levels by 2020. In addition, it has offered to move to a 30% reduction by 2020 as part of a global climate agreement on condition that other countries commit to do their fair share.

The UN talks in Durban - the 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) - will run from 28 November to 9 December 2011.

More information:
Council conclusions (pdf)
Press release (pdf)
Press conference webcast
Council conclusions on climate finance (pdf)
EU environment policy (on Europa server)