Environment Council, 18/09/2015, 18 September 2015

 Carole Dieschbourg, Luxembourg Minister for Environment and President of the Council said: "With this Mandate the EU will continue to show leadership in the run-up to Paris and facilitate a global agreement that is acceptable for all parties. This mandate will lead the way to an ambitious, robust and dynamic climate agreement with review cycles. These will fill the gap between the short-term reduction targets and the long-term goal.  Carole Dieschbourg, Luxembourg Minister for Environment and President of the Council said: "With this Mandate the EU will continue to show leadership in the run-up to Paris and facilitate a global agreement that is acceptable for all parties. This mandate will lead the way to an ambitious, robust and dynamic climate agreement with review cycles. These will fill the gap between the short-term reduction targets and the long-term goal."

Main results

The Council adopted conclusions establishing the EU's position for the UN climate change conference in Paris later this year. This mandate sets out the EU's vision for the new climate agreement to be adopted at the conference. 

The EU will aim at reaching an ambitious, legally-binding and dynamic agreement, with the objective of keeping global warming below 2°C. In order to achieve this objective, the Council stressed that global greenhouse gas emissions need to peak by 2020 at the latest, be reduced by at least 50% by 2050 compared to 1990 and be near zero or below by 2100.

Luxembourg Minister for Environment and President of the Council Carole Dieschbourg said: "With this Mandate the EU will continue to show leadership in the run-up to Paris and facilitate a global agreement that is acceptable for all parties. This mandate will lead the way to an ambitious, robust and dynamic climate agreement with review cycles. These will fill the gap between the short-term reduction targets and the long-term goal." 

President Dieschbourg also stressed: "The real work starts after Paris. I am sure the EU will implement its commitments responsibly and it has a huge potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We should build on the successful policies already in place." 

• Council conclusions on the EU mandate for Paris 2015
• Outcome of Council meeting