Poznan and the Road to Copenhagen

In December 2008 the 14th Conference of the Parties (COP 14) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) took place in Poznan, Poland. This meeting was crucial for taking a relevant step forward towards an effective post-2012 Climate Protection Agreement, which needs to be finalised at the end of this year at COP 15 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Simultaneously, the European Union also successfully adopted its so-called ‘Energy and Climate Change Package’, which includes measures that aim to reach the EU’s its 20% (30% if there is a global climate deal) greenhouse gas reduction target and the 20% renewables target.

This Böll Lunch Debate aims to evaluate the outcome of the COP14 and the EU Energy and Climate Package and discuss questions such as: Has the European Union retained its climate change leadership role with its adopted package? What are the chances for clinching a global deal in Copenhagen? What are the main stumbling blocks? And to what extent can we expect the Obama administration to be ready for Copenhagen?

Speakers:
- Rosario Bento Pais, Assistant to Director-General, DG Environment
- Sascha Müller-Kraenner, European Representative of The Nature Conservancy

Chair:
Claude Weinber, Director, EU Regional Office of the Heinrich Böll Foundation