Through a joint letter to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Spanish Presidency of the Council and the European Commission have communicated both the support of the European Union and its 27 member States for the Copenhagen Agreement and its will to take this first step to move towards a legally binding agreement for climate protection as of 2012.  

The EU has also provided notification of its reduction of greenhouse gasses by 2020, and has reiterated its commitment to reduce emissions by 30% if other industrialized and developing countries contribute with comparable reductions according to their responsibility and capability.

The European Union has informed that it has already reflected in Community legislation its unilateral commitment to reduce emissions by 20% as compared with 1990 levels.

The Minister of the Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs, Ms. Elena Espinosa said: “The Spanish Presidency both will bolster and broaden out as wide a consensus as possible on the Copenhagen agreement within the United Nations Process. We are already working together with our partners in order to make operational the elements of the Copenhagen Accord as soon as possible and to pave the way for a successful Conference of the Parties to be held in November in Mexico” .

The Minister highlighted: “Europe not only has a historical responsibility but also the capability and experience it needs to integrate climate change in its model for growth and development and in its relations with third countries”.

The Spanish Presidency welcomes the announcements made up today by various countries and encourages the other supporters of the Copenhagen Agreement to express their commitments as soon as possible.

The countries supporting the Copenhagen Accord account for more than 80% of the global GHG emissions and their willingness to act is a very important milestone that should be strengthening and updated according to science.