On 6 November, the European Commission proposed legislation that would facilitate an EU ratification of the second commitment period (2013-2020) of the Kyoto Protocol, reinforcing the European Union’s pledge to combat climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the coming years.

The EU has been an active party to the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement supported by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change that plays a crucial role in global efforts to tackle climate change. Since the European Union ratified this protocol in 2002, a considerable amount of effort has been made to honour this commitment. This momentum will be sustained by the ratification of the Doha Amendment, agreed upon at the UN Climate Conference held in Doha, Qatar, last December.  The Doha Amendment established a second commitment period that spans from 2013 to 2020. It seems that the EU is performing well in its efforts to reduce potentially harmful emissions. Though experts suggest that this may be more due to industrial slowdown as a result of the financial crisis rather than the result a shift to more sustainable energy practices.

Of course, islands are more vulnerable to the impact of climate change. Scientists on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change have suggested that should sea level continue to rise, it could generate a more imminent threat than previously presumed.  Significantly elevated sea levels would challenge the quality and availability of clean drinking water long before islands faced the risk of submersion. It has been argued that in the case of certain islands large volumes of dense salt water could flood underground tunnels used to extract the water for human consumption. Such risks highlight the necessity of action in order to decelerate the pace of climate change. Even in the absence of these daunting predictions, a shift to cleaner, more sustainable technologies is desirable – such technologies are more reliable and will ensure we are less dependent on foreign imports.

According to the European Commissioner for Climate Action, Connie Hedegaard, the EU has already been striving to meet the targets of the second commitment period. A notable example is the EU Climate and Energy Package, known as the “20-20-20” targets. These targets set key objectives for 2020, including a 20% reduction in EU greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels, raising the share of EU energy consumption produced from renewable resources to 20% and a 20% improvement in the EU’s energy efficiency. The European Parliament has also taken its own initiative to shape a greener development path for the European Community. The Report on a 2030 Framework for Climate and Energy Policies is currently going through the EP legislative process. I am the rapporteur on the Opinion on this dossier that is currently being debated in the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs. Here we are currently in the process of negotiating compromise amendments to the Opinion that is scheduled to be voted on by the Committee during the third week of December.  By fostering an integrated approach to climate and energy policy, the 2030 Framework aims to achieve smart, sustainable and inclusive growth that will create jobs and increase Europe’s competitiveness in the global market during the next decade. Indeed we must not forget that there is great potential for job creation in the green economy. Workers must be trained in new technologies – here the EU can play an important role in ensuring that the mismatch between employee skills and the needs of future workplaces can be addressed. 

The European Parliament and Council will individually review the Commission’s proposal in order to establish regulations on the technical issues related to the implementation of the Doha Amendment. The Doha Amendment will enter into force internationally when at least three quarters of the 192 parties to the Protocol have agreed to the new commitments. Currently, Bangladesh, Barbados, United Arab Emirates and Mauritius are the only countries that have accepted this amendment.

David Casa is a PN MEP