Despite Trump, EU and China to back climate deal – to include aviation and shipping
A leaked document shows EU and China are more convinced of climate strategy than ever and willing to ensure aviation and shipping contribute to domestic and international measures. The EU and China are expected to announce plans to reinforce co-operation on delivering a climate deal for shipping at the IMO. This comes after US President Trump confirming that the US is pulling out of the Paris Accord. The EU and China say they “consider climate action and the clean energy transition an imperative more important than ever” and they will “ensure that aviation and shipping contribute to combating climate change, including both through domestic measures and international co-operation.” The 19th bilateral summit between the EU and China is taking place on June 1-2 in Brussels. The aim is to advance on the strategic partnership between the EU and China. Further agreement will be made on the importance of emissions trading schemes as a cost-effective climate policy tool. The statement says the EU and China will reinforce bilateral co-operation activities on emissions trading in the context of reforming the EU ETS and starting a national ETS in China this year. Transport & Environment (T&E) director for transport and aviation Bill Hemmings welcomed the reports on future co-operation on climate change.
.
Tweet
EU and China to back climate deal at IMO
1 June 2017 (Lloyds List)
Leaked document shows EU and China more convinced of climate strategy than ever and willing to ensure aviation and shipping contribute to domestic and international measures.
THE European Union and China are expected to announce plans to reinforce co-operation on delivering a climate deal for shipping at the International Maritime Organization.
The collaboration will be unveiled at a summit of EU and Chinese leaders on Friday, a day after US President Donald Trump announced his decision to quit immediately any non-binding agreements in the 2015 Paris Accord.
A leaked statement seen by Lloyd’s List, the EU and China will say they “consider climate action and the clean energy transition an imperative more important than ever”.
“Its detrimental impacts on water, food and national security have become a multiplying factor of social and political fragility, and constitute a root cause for instability, including the displacement of people,” the statement adds.
Brussels and Beijing will “ensure that aviation and shipping contribute to combating climate change, including both through domestic measures and international co-operation”, the statement adds.
The 19th bilateral summit between the EU and China is taking place on June 1-2 in Brussels. The aim is to advance on the strategic partnership between the EU and China.
Trade, climate change and migration will be among the issues to be covered during the summit. It will also be an opportunity to discuss foreign policy and security challenges.
European Council president Donald Tusk and European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker will represent the European Union. China will be represented by Prime Minister Li Keqiang.
The EU and China are expected to use the meeting to underline their highest political commitment to the effective implementation of the Paris Agreement. “Stepping up action will provide both sides with significant opportunities for modernising their economies, enhancing competitiveness, and ensuring socio-economic benefits of increased clean energy access,” the statement says.
Further agreement will be made on the importance of emissions trading schemes as a cost-effective climate policy tool. The statement says the EU and China will further enhance and reinforce bilateral co-operation activities on emissions trading in the context of reforming the EU ETS and starting a national ETS in China this year.
European transport policy think tank T&E director transport and aviation Bill Hemmings welcomed the reports on enhanced EU-China co-operation on climate change.
“The reported US move is another reminder for us that, firstly, global efforts to tackle climate change will be fraught with difficulties and run the danger of failure without regional pressure,” he said.
Mr Hemmings called for ‘insurance policies’ to be put in place in case global efforts on shipping emissions fail after another seven years of discussions. “It will be too late to start thinking about it in mid-2020s,” he said.
.
.