The Copenhagen climate change conference (COP15) was supposed to be the final milestone in negotiating a new international agreement on climate change. In practice, the conference achieved much less than most people hoped for, simply ‘taking note’ of an Accord between a subset of parties, which has uncertain status. At the start of 2010 there is still little clarity about how the UNFCCC process will need to proceed in 2010 and how the ever evolving global politics of climate change will influence what can be achieved through the international process. It is clear that there will be significant challenges to overcome in the next year in order to move the world towards an effective climate change response.

Recent internal changes within the EU also need to be considered in planning the way forward for Europe. The Lisbon Treaty could provide opportunities for enhancing engagement, for example, between the Commission and the main negotiating tracks under the UNFCCC. It could also provide a more practical means for promoting policy coherence between actions on climate change and other policy areas which are crucial in finding practical approaches to addressing climate change.

At the start of a new decade, the international climate process, the EU and the world are all at different cross-roads. Movement by the EU in any direction could have profound consequences for its success in dealing with climate change and other global challenges. This event will explore the options for the EU in future international climate action and the practical options for moving forward. Read more and register

Confirmed speakers: Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary, UNFCCC; Johan van de Gronden, Director WWF Netherland; Asuncion Lera St. Clair,  Professor, University of Bergen; Saleemul Huq, Senior Researcher, International Institute for Environment and Development; Leo Peskett Overseas Development Institute & EDC 2020 Coordinator