An EU perspective on international burden sharing post-2012

Abstract

Climate change issues have come to the forefront of international diplomacy and will increasingly dominate policy discussions, both within our countries and among them.1 New Zealand, like the EU, has engaged with the battle on climate change and is currently grappling with the complexities of putting in place an emissions trading scheme. The aim of this article is, first, to explain how the EU is contributing to the fight against climate change. In particular, I want to highlight how we already differentiate efforts within the EU among member states and different sectors, setting a real example of what could be done. Then I wish to outline some core elements for global burden sharing to be negotiated at the Copenhagen conference to be held under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in late 2009.