The European Commission has launched a public consultation on the European Union's approach to a global climate change agreement up to and beyond 2012 when the current Kyoto Protocol targets will end. Stakeholders and the general public are invited to put forward their views on a number of critical issues before September 29th.

The consultation follows the Commission's Communication "Limiting Global Climate Change to 2° Celsius: The way ahead for 2020 and beyond", as a part of the EU's Contribution to Shaping A Future Global Climate Change Regime. Stakeholders are being asked for their views on the different building blocks of the Bali Road Map. These include:

• A shared vision guiding commitments to mid-term targets by developed countries.
• Greater collaboration on emission reduction and adaptation to climate change with the support of technology and finance.

The results of the survey will help to shape the EU's position on the global post-2012 agreement.

In December 2007, at the UN conference on climate change in Bali, Indonesia, participating countries set out an action plan for an agreement on a post 2012 framework, to be completed by 2009 when the parties of the UNFCCC meet in Copenhagen. Official negotiations over the new United Nations climate change agreement started on March 31st in Bangkok.

In this scope, as Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas declared, “the ambitious agreement that needs to be reached in Copenhagen must bring together the world's nations to tackle this global challenge effectively. It is important that our contribution to this discussion is shaped by the knowledge and expertise of the different EU stakeholders."

The Commission will therefore welcome comments from all interested parties, including individual citizens, industry, trade unions and consumer representatives, interest groups, the NGO community and other organisations. A conference for stakeholders is planned for autumn this year.

The consultation runs until 29 September 2008. Interested stakeholders are invited to participate by filling in the online questionnaire.