The EU and the Paris Climate Agreement: Ambitions, strategic goals, and tactical approaches

In October 2014, the European Union has announced the objective of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to at least 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030. On March 6, 2015, the Council of Environmental Ministers reported this target as the EU's official contribution to the ongoing climate talks under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). At around the same time, the European Commission unveiled a far-reaching and detailed proposal for the design of a new international climate agreement. In the process of adopting a formal EU negotiating mandate, the EU Member States will have to decide whether to support the Commission's proposals. Their considerations will need to bring internal European interests in the area of climate policy and France's role as host to the Paris UNFCCC Conference in December 2015 into harmony with the overall EU climate policy ambitions. (SWP Comments)