The 21^st Session Conference of the Parties (COP 21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) began with the participation of more than 150 countries’ political leaders on 30 November 2015. During COP 21, member countries of the UNFCCC will negotiate a new international binding climate change agreement. COP 21 will take place from 30 November to 11 December 2015.

The Most Critical Negotiating Chapters in Paris

The most critical negotiating chapters that should be addressed during the conference will be the “adaptation to climate change”, “harmonisation of mitigation national targets”, particularly the effectiveness of INDCs (Intended Nationally Determined Contributions) to keep global warming below 2 Degrees in a long-term period, “global binding financial mechanisms” and “technology transfer” for the developing and poorest countries.

What can make a new agreement different from the Kyoto Protocol?

1. As it is known, Kyoto Protocol was extended to 2020. However, there are only 38 countries which set targets for the second commitment period of the Protocol (2012-2020). These countries are also responsible for 12% of global emissions. As it is mentioned in the official document published by the European Commission, Kyoto targets and new INDCs are not enough yet to meet the core goal of keeping the global warming 2 Degrees. Therefore, a new climate change agreement should cover all Parties. This means a new agreement should be binding one. 

2. Setting global binding emission targets is another important chapter of the negotiations. According to the UNFCCC”s INDCs Report, the current INDCs could only enable `slow` reduction on emissions. 

3. Financial support for developing and poorest countries in tackling climate change should also addressed. Industrialised countries committed to provide 100 billion euros per year by 2020 for the Green Climate Fund. According to OECD and Climate Policy Initiative Report, only 62 billion dollars have been provided in 2014.

4. The effectiveness of emission trading schemes is another issue that should be considered within a new agreement. Particularly, 2008 financial and economic crisis showed that the need for a revision process for the EU’s Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) is essential to fix the surplus of allowances. In the current process, Market Stability Reserve as the reform of the EU ETS will start to operate in 2019. 

The EU’s Position in Paris

The EU has already binding targets by 2020, 2030 and 2050. The EU’s existing emission reduction target for a new climate change agreement is 40% by 2030. The EU’s ETS is the key mechanism of the climate change policy of the EU. The EU presented its position and objectives before the UN Conference in Paris as below:

• A global vision for a long-term goal,

• A mechanism to regularly review and raise the collective ambition,

• A robust transparency and accountability system to ensure that Parties and stakeholders can trust that what is promised will be delivered.

Turkey’s Position in Paris

On 30 September 2015, Turkey submitted its INDCs as `up to 21%` reduction in emissions according to the scenario of Business as Usual level by 2030. Turkey’s National Climate Change Action Plan is its first and the key document. However, Turkey is struggling with implementation process of targets that set in its national document. This argument is also mentioned in the Progress Report of Turkey presented by the European Commission.

Turkey’s INDCs can be seen here.