UPM-Biofore-Magazine-3-2014-EN

Marco Mensink

“There are still several legislative barriers to ratification of the Climate Convention in the US. However, several countries have become more favour- able towards the agreement since the Copenhagenmeeting, which is why I believe that the Paris meeting will be a turning point for the interna- tional climate agreement,” says Liz Gallagher , EG3’s climate diplomacy expert. Improved EU legislation The key tools of the 2030 climate and energy package ratified by the EU are the emission trading system, the 27% renewable energy source objective and increased energy e“ciency. Marco Mensink , Director General of CEPI, the Confederation of European Paper Industries, says the new package better takes into account the concerns of European industries regarding the impact of climate policy on their competitive edge. “The agreement includes a clause that continues free emission allow- ances to energy-intensive industries to prevent carbon leakage until the other leading economies start to apply similar systems to their own companies.” Mensink says that this is a very important clause in terms of future investments. European politicians must make sure that industries will manage with the increased costs brought on by climate policy in the short term so that they will be able to reach goals in the long term. “We want to make the EU legisla- tionmore easily foreseeable, because if companies are unable to make new investments, they will not reach the

”We want to make the EU legislation more easily foreseeable, because if companies are unable to make new investments, they will not reach the emission reductions needed to meet the political goals. National economies will not grow either if they are not attractive enough to businesses.” –Marco Mensink

organisation E3G says that China is investing in zero emission energy production, nuclear power, renew- able energy sources and gas while also building new coal-fired power plants. “I don’t believe that China is ready to formally commit to the interna- tional process; instead, it focuses on trying to stop the pollution of its own water- ways, soil and air. China’s internal status also plays a role in the process: China started a major financial reform last year. If the process goes as planned, China’s input in the international climate negotiations may be more significant.” The status in the US has also experi- enced a major change. The utilisation of shale gas, in particular, will reduce the need to use coal, which will in turn reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The US announced in the agreement with China the intention to achieve an economy-wide target of reducing its emissions by 26%–28% below its 2005 level in 2025.

Shin We Ng

TAUSTAN KORJAUS

18 | BIOFORE