European Union & 79 African, Caribbean, & Pacific Countries Back Ambitious Climate Deal At COP21

The European Union, along with 79 countries from Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Islands, have joined forces to back an ambitious global climate deal at COP21.

The 28 European Union Member States and the 79 countries from the African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) States publicly stressed “their shared commitment for an ambitious and binding global climate deal” to be agreed upon by all at COP21 in Paris. Specifically, the two groups have agreed upon and are calling for the following:

• the Paris Agreement must be legally binding, inclusive, fair, ambitious, durable and dynamic
• it must set out a clear and operational long-term goal which is in line with science
• it must establish a review mechanism for countries to come together every five years to consider progress made and to enhance collective and individual efforts as appropriate
• it must include a transparency and accountability system to track progress on  the delivery of national commitments and the sharing of best practice

The announcement was made in a joint conference at COP21 between Miguel Arias Canete, EU Energy and Climate Commissioner, and environment ministers from Gabon, Germany, and Papua New Guinea, in which the 11th European Development Fund Intra-ACP Strategy was also signed by the ACP Group and the European Commission, which will allocate €475 million to support climate action, resilience building, and the environment in ACP countries up to 2020.

“These negotiations are not about “them” and “us”,” said Miguel Arias Cañete. “These negotiations are about all of us, both developed and developing countries, finding common ground and solutions together. This is why the EU and the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries have agreed to join forces for an ambitious outcome here in Paris. We urge other countries to join us. Together we can do it. The EU stands shoulder to shoulder with its long term partners in the African, Caribbean and Pacific regions.”

“It has become clear that the majority of countries supports an ambitious and binding agreement,” added Barbara Hendricks, German Federal Minister for the Environment. “At this conference, the EU and Germany have clearly signalled that we take fair burden sharing seriously. The G7, the EU and Sweden pledged 10 billion euros for promoting renewables in Africa. Today, Germany increased its funding for the adaptation fund for developing countries by 50 million euros to reach a total of 140 million euros.”