catalonia strives for climate agreement in copenhagen

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Catalonia strives for climate

agreement in Copenhagen

Barcelona, 20 October 2009

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Worldwide negotiations: Copenhagen Agreement

Calendar of UNFCCC meetings:

December 2007 Bali (COP13)

....

December 2008 Poznań (COP14)

FebruaryBonn

May Bonn

August Bonn

28 Sep. – 9 Oct.: Bangkok

2 – 6 November: Barcelona

7 – 18 December: Copenhagen (COP15)

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Climate change is a worldwide, man-made phenomenon

An increase of more than 2ºC in the Earth’s mean temperature would

lead to high levels of risk for people and the economy

The Kyoto Protocol is the first international instrument designed to face

up to it and is in force from 2008 to 2012

Now, along with the Kyoto commitments, we are designing the

agreement for the second period 2013-2020

Mitigation and adaptation policies have a very great geopolitical, social,

environmental and economic impact

Context

In the framework of the current economic crisis, the climate negotiations

seek to lead the way to a new economic model

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1. Setting quantitative targets for emissions reduction in the medium term

(2020 or 2025). Responsibility shared but not equal. In the long term

(2050) the consensus is high.

The main challenges

Internal disagreements in the USA about the scope and

quantification of the reduction in emissions. Law

blocked right now in the Senate by the Republicans,

with the likelihood of it not being passed till 2010.

… (continued)

1. Setting quantitative targets for emissions reduction

2. Defining the economic framework

3. Technology transfer

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The main challenges

Resistance of the emerging countries to

compulsory limitation of emissions not linked to

economic growth. (For example: China, India,

Brazil, South Africa, Mexico)

The emerging countries first want to see a binding

commitment from the industrialised countries, to

cut emissions by 25 to 40% by 2020. At the

moment the individual proposals from the

industrialised countries do not reach 25%.

… (continued)

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3. Assuring mechanisms for technology transfer from the

developed countries to the developing countries to guarantee a

low-carbon growth model

The main challenges

2. Definition of an economic framework to guarantee financing

from the developed countries and of mitigation and adaptation

actions of the developing countries.

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Items for negotiation:

The technical items are not an obstacle if a political

consensus is reached.

There is strong, growing social pressure encouraging the

desire to reach an agreement.

It is necessary for the negotiating parties to make

concessions on their own interests.

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Expectations for the Copenhagen Conference

Reaching a general framework agreement. The question is:

1. How far the burden of economic efforts can be specified.

2. The level of the emissions limits for each of the parties.

This will be clarified in the coming months.

Now is the time to reach some agreement. Intense negotiations

have been taking place for two years and we think that the world

would not accept a failure to find a way to consensus.

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Barcelona Talks

From 2 to 6 November Barcelona will host the

last United Nations meeting before Copenhagen.

It could mark the start of a change of

perspective.

There are expected to be between 4,000 and

5,000 participants from 180 countries.

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Barcelona Talks

Organised jointly by the United Nations, the Spanish

Government, the Government of Catalonia and Barcelona

City Council.

The expectation of the meeting is for the different positions

to mature and that disagreements can be lessened.

Agreement must be reached in Copenhagen.

The social agents will have an active role.

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Barcelona Talks. Goals

To strengthen Catalonia's position on the map of

commitment to the climate and as a centre for debate and

action.

To promote a favourable environment for the negotiations.

To encourage social participation.

To manage the knowledge acquired during the Barcelona

Talks, sharing it with civil society and with the different

levels of government, all in the perspective of the Spanish

presidency of the EU.

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Barcelona Talks. Web: www.bcnclimatechange.org

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Barcelona Talks

Contents of the website

Parallel events

Positioning of civil society

Specialised news bulletins

Information about the talks

Logistics and additional services

Other useful information about Barcelona

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In Poznań Catalonia included an

amendment to the negotiation document,

through the International Network of

Regional Governments for Sustainable

Development (nrg4SD).

Catalonia and the Copenhagen Agreement

Created in Johannesburg in 2002, it currently has 34 members

worldwideThe Government of Catalonia has

participated since 2002 as a founder member and is currently

a member of the executive committee.

The aim is for the Copenhagen

Agreement to recognise the important

role in dealing with climate change played

by the governments described by the

United Nations as subnational (US states,

Canadian provinces, German Länder,

Spanish autonomous communities) and

the local bodies.

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We want our role to be recognised and we want to be present in the

next few years when the expected Copenhagen Agreement will be put

into practice.

The draft negotiation texts have included this amendment, but we

must ensure that it appears in the final text. We will see to it in

Barcelona and Copenhagen that this recognition is maintained in the

final text.


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The Government of Catalonia is also a

member of The Climate Group, an

organisation that brings together

governments such as those of California,

Scotland and South Australia, and also

companies, to make proposals and ask for

commitments.

Principles signed by each member:

“We recognise the urgency of addressing human-induced climate change and we declare our common desire and commitment to work diligently and creatively to adopt solutions...”

Greater London Authority The City of Chicago The City of Los Angeles The City of Miami The City of New York The Government of Catalonia The Province of British Columbia The Province of Manitoba The Province of Ontario The Province of Québec The State of California The State of New South Wales The State of New York The State of Queensland The State of South Australia The State of Victoria The State of Western Australia

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Catalonia strives for an international agreement based on commitment

and effective action.

In tune with the European Union, which agreed the energy-climate

package in 2008 by co-decision of the European Parliament (by a large

majority) and the European Council, the Government of Catalonia

showed its support for achieving the goal of a 30% reduction in

emissions by 2020 in the developed countries, and calls on the

emerging countries to shoulder their part of the responsibility.

Likewise, the Government of Catalonia recognises the need to give

support to the developing countries in the field of adaptation and

mitigation, on the basis of network programmes, such as that run by

the United Nations Development Programme, in which Catalonia

participates.

Positioning of Catalonia

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The Government sees climate change as a basic topic for action

in Catalan policy in the forthcoming years.

The Interdepartmental Commission for Climate Change and the

Catalan Office for Climate Change are tools available to the

Government for promoting cross-cutting climate action that

includes energy, mobility, building, waste disposal, agricultural and

industrial policies among others.

Positioning of Catalonia

The Government accepts responsibility for

emissions in Catalonia and states its willingness to

act accordingly. The Framework Plan for Climate

Change Mitigation 2008-2012, approved by the

Government in October 2008, following a process

of participation, is a definite step in this

commitment.

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The starting point

Ensuring that Catalonia meets its share of responsibility in

accordance with the scenario for compliance with the Kyoto

Protocol, which Spain has agreed with the EU, that is, limiting

diffuse emissions to +37% on average between 2008 and 2012

Actions for dealing with climate change in Catalonia. Goals

This 37% consists of:

15% free under the Kyoto Protocol commitment 2% compensated by the growth of forests (sinks) 20% bought by Spain to compensate for the diffuse emissions of

Spain as a whole

2020

The starting point

The figures for 2007 show that our emissions are 43% above the

emissions of the base year (1990). This figure represents 8 tonnes

per capita.

Actions for dealing with climate change in Catalonia. Goals

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The Framework Plan for Climate Change Mitigation in Catalonia

2008-2012 sets out the Catalan strategy for reducing greenhouse

gas emissions (GHG) and its deployment should achieve a

reduction of 5.33 Mt per year.

It was approved by a Governmental Agreement in October 2008,

thus becoming one of the first non-state mitigation plans, based on

a process of public participation over nearly 5 months, with the

participation of more than 500 bodies and 1,000 proposals (Catalan

Climate Change Convention).

Actions for dealing with climate change in Catalonia. Mitigation

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The Framework Plan for Mitigation 2008-2012 is structured

as follows:

• Programme 1. Reduction of emissions in the diffuse sectors (Programme 5.33)

• Programme 2. Support for the installations covered by the Emission Allowance Trading Directive

• Programme 3. Cross-cutting actions for mitigation

• Sector support measures


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Programme 5.33 is the basis of the Plan:

SECTOR Mt CO2eq/year Main sponsor departments

AGRICULTURE 0.259 DARP,DEF (ICAEN)

HOUSING 0.447 DMAH,DEF (ICAEN)

SERVICES 0.314 DMAH,DEF (ICAEN)

INDUSTRY NOT SUBJECT TO THE DIRECTIVE 1.159 DEF (ICAEN), DIUE

WASTE 0.325DMAH (ARC),

DEF (ICAEN)

TRANSPORT AND MOBILITY 1.860 DEF (ICAEN), PTOP, DIRP

VOLUNTARY AGREEMENTS AND PILOT SCHEMES FOR DOMESTIC OFFSET PROJECTS 0.966 DMAH, DEF (ICAEN),

DIUE

TOTAL 5.33


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ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN CATALONIA,in accordance with the White Paper:

• 2009: Start of the series of basic studies for later definition of a climate change prevention and adaptation strategy in Catalonia.

• 2010: In-depth study of the scientific evidence. Design of climate scenarios regionalised for Catalonia. There is now a high degree of scientific consensus on the global climate scenarios worldwide, but they have yet to be regionalised.

• 2011: Assessment of the impacts of climate change in Catalonia. Special attention paid to the most vulnerable territories and sectors.

• 2012: Proposal and analysis of the measures for adaptation to climate change.

• Catalan plan for adaptation to climate change in Catalonia.

Actions for dealing with climate change in Catalonia. Adaptation

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ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN CATALONIA

• Setting up the Adaptation Working Group of the Interdepartmental Commission for Climate Change

• Updating the Climate Change Status Study in Catalonia

• Series of basic studies on the impact of climate change in Catalonia

• Monographic studies on highly vulnerable territories or sectors in Catalonia.

• N1 Framework Study: Ebro Delta (December 2008).

• N2 Framework Study: Water resources (November 2009).

• Instrument for generating knowledge. Topic for organised and constructive debate.

• Transparency: Website of the Catalan Office for Climate Change.

• Tool for dissemination and awareness raising.

Actions for dealing with climate change in Catalonia. Adaptation

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The Office for Climate Change is currently analysing the application of

the Framework Plan in the first two years, 2008 and 2009, for the

Interdepartmental Commission to assess it for the Government. It will be

presented at the Catalan Climate Change Convention.

The initial figures show that more than 85% of the actions programmed

to reduce emissions in the diffuse sectors have started running, and

100% of the sub-programmes have been set up.

It also shows that some Departments have sponsored a series of

additional actions, which did not initially form part of the Framework

Mitigation Plan, and which are therefore expected to enhance its

effectiveness.

The review of the Catalan Energy Plan is expected to include an

improvement in avoided GHG emissions.

Actions for dealing with climate change in Catalonia. Assessment

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Actions for dealing with climate change in Catalonia: some examples

Setting up a credit line to finance packages of solutions for energy saving and

thermal comfort in dwellings through an agreement between the Government

of Catalonia, the Catalan savings banks, and financial institutions.

Various actions in favour of sustainable mobility and public transport:

extending metro lines or creation of HOV-bus lanes among others.

Improving or replacing street lighting through specific funding lines.

Bringing into operation the second anaerobic co-digestion plant in Catalonia

using biogas energy at Torregrossa (Lleida).

Creation of a line of subsidy aimed at local authorities for implementing

emission reduction projects.

Creation of the Catalan Institute of Climate Sciences (IC3) as a centre of

excellence for climate research.

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The Catalan Meteorological Service, the Catalan Institute of Climate

Sciences and the Group of Experts on Climate Change, along with

other universities and research centres are providing further knowledge

of the causes and effects of climate change in Catalonia.

Increasingly, companies and social agents show their commitment to

climate action and this will be shown in Barcelona with more than 40

parallel events. We wish to invite Catalan civil society to take part.

We have started work on setting up, as the EU White Paper requires,

a plan for adaptation to climate change before 2012. To date, studies

have been made of the Ebro Delta and the study on water resources is

expected to be complete by November 2009.

Actions for dealing with climate change in Catalonia

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While the road is long, Catalonia must be placed decisively on the path to the

transition to a low-carbon economy. Its international positioning, the action of

the country’s government and social and economic agents put us at an optimal

starting point to become one of the drivers of this transition.

The innovating and entrepreneurial spirit of Catalonia has always been a key

factor for progress to a fairer society. Sustainability and action to tackle climate

change are two key issues for emerging stronger from the crisis, for the

competitiveness and the solidarity of Catalonia in the world.

Catalonia will boost this perspective both at the Barcelona Talks and at the

Copenhagen Conference, aware of the importance of the current moment for

dealing with climate change.

Some reflexions

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Catalonia strives for climate agreement

in Copenhagen

catalonia strives for climate agreement in copenhagen

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