After a two-week final negotiations among 196 UN countries and EU, the climate conference COP 24 held in mid-December in Katowice, concluded with the adoption of a rulebook for implementation of the Global Agreement on climate change, that is, to make the 2015 Paris Agreement work in practice across the world.
Hard talks during the negotiations on states’ financial obligations, monitoring progress and contributions on preventing the negative impact of the climate change lasted three years due to the opposition demonstrated on behalf of the economic superpowers who are at the same time the biggest polluters.
The EU member states accepted to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% by 2030 compared to 1990, under its own climate and energy framework. All key legislation for implementing the 2030 emissions target has already been adopted, including the increased EU’s 2030 targets on renewable energy and energy efficiency – which if fully implemented -could lead to cut the emissions of some 45% by 2030, the Commission has estimated. This includes the planned modernisation of the EU Emissions Trading System, transport, buildings, agriculture and waste.
First test on abiding by the package rules for cutting the carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere will be 2020 when additional measures have to be introduced until 2030.
Joining the EU, RC has taken over the common European target to cut greenhouse gas emissions for 20 % by 2020 compared to 1990.
Ombudswoman in her reports pays attention to the harmful consequences of the climate change that affect the state of human rights (flood, fire), primarily the right to healthy living, environment and nature.