The European Commission published a consultative paper that launches a public debate on how best to design a new international agreement to combat climate change, which is to be completed by the end of 2015 and to apply from 2020.

The consultative paper published by the European Commission launches a public debate on how best to design a new international agreement to combat climate change. The Consultative Communication invites input from stakeholders, Member States and EU institutions on how best to design the 2015 agreement, which will lay down the international regime for fighting climate change post 2020. The public consultation runs online until 26 June. In December 2011, MEPs already called for a binding global agreement on climate change by 2015.

The EU, a few other European countries and Australia have already joined a legally binding second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol, while some 60 other countries around the world have made different types of non-binding commitments to reduce, or limit the growth in, their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

In addition, at the same time as the international negotiations on the 2015 agreement, parallel negotiations were launched under the Durban Platform to find ways to deepen global GHG emission reductions before the agreement takes effect in 2020. This reflects recognition that there is a significant gap between countries’ current emissions pledges for 2020 and what is needed to put the world on track towards keeping global warming below 2°C.