Miguel Arias Canete calls on all countries to submit national contributions to the UN for global deal
Miguel Arias Cañete, is a Spanish former environment minister (Flickr/ EU in Peru)
By Megan Darby
The EU is expecting Brazil, Indonesia and Colombia to submit climate pledges to the UN “in the coming weeks,” according to commissioner Miguel Arias Canete.
Speaking at a press conference following a meeting of EU environment ministers, Canete urged all countries to produce their “intended nationally determined contributions” (INDCs).
“If the Marshall Islands have been able to come forward with a very ambitious INDC, then other countries can also do it,” he said.
To date, 47 countries covering 59% of global emissions have entered climate plans, including China, the US and EU28.
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That is already an improvement on the current phase of the Kyoto Protocol, Canete pointed out, which only covers 13% of emissions.
INDCs will lay the foundations for an international climate pact to be struck in Paris this December.
Canete said: “All countries on the basis of their capacities have to contribute.”
He added parties were converging on some key elements of a Paris deal, including a five-year cycle for reviewing pledges, a long-term goal and transparency measures.
The two co-chairs of the UN climate talks are due to release a streamlined negotiating text on Friday.