EU land and forests in the climate and�energy framework for 2030

Peter Wehrheim

Land Use and Finance for Innovation

DG Climate Action, European Commission

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European Parliament

16 February 2016

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Climate Action

Climate Action

COP21 Paris outcome & land issues

• Objective: limiting global temperature increase to less than 2 °C; parties will "pursue efforts to" limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C
• To reach these objectives, the need to utilise/enhance natural sinks is very prominent
• Acknowledgement of the importance of food security
• Existing accounting rules acknowledged yet also scope for future improvements (future discussions on accounting)

Climate Action

LULUCF = Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry

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Climate Action

LULUCF accounting

• 2001/2005: Rules for measuring and reporting emissions and removals in the LULUCF sector during the first commitment period (2008-2012) of the Kyoto Protocol were agreed among international partners.
• 2012: Current EU LULUCF accounting based on accounting rules agreed for the second KP commitment period at COP17 in Durban
• 2013: EU LULUCF Decision in 2013, working on improving the capacity of Member states to include grassland & cropland
• UNFCCC International review teams, Commission including JRC work with Member states to improve the quality and consistency of national GHG inventories over time (including LULUCF)
• LULUCF accounting evolved over 15 yrs - is continuously improving

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Climate Action

• October 2014 European Council invites EC
• Propose policy on how to include LULUCF into the 2030 greenhouse gas mitigation framework;
• Take into account the multiple objectives:

food security and climate change mitigation

• "Lower mitigation potential" of agriculture.

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• Principles for the inclusion of LULUCF:
• Build on rules already agreed with Member States domestic LULUCF Decision adopted in 2013,
• Making them fit for purpose for 2020 to 2030,
• No backsliding in terms of environmental integrity; protect existing sinks; develop additional mitigation potential

Policy context

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Climate Action

Next steps

• Impact Assessment this year (2016):
• Analyse and compare the policy options;
• Assess mitigation options for agriculture and forestry in each Member State;
• Assess environmental integrity, economic and social impacts.
• Summary report of the stakeholder consultation and workshop will be part of an Impact Assessment.
• Legislative proposal(s) in 2016.

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Climate Action

Thank you!��Visit DG Climate Action online:

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Climate Action

Climate Action