Vous trouverez sur cette page les positions présentées par la Grèce à la Conférence de Copenhague sur le changement climatique : 

Although Greece contributes very little to the global greenhouse gas emissions, it feels obliged to offer the most of technical and financial support it can, in order to face global climate change.

All the developed and developing countries with high levels of gas emissions will have to contribute to this financing, according to their portion of responsibility. In this framework, we are ready to contribute our fair share to international public funding. The Less Developed Countries (LDCs) and the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) should not be forced to undertake any financial cost.

International public funding is necessary in order to motivate national efforts, especially during the first years of the new agreement. It is nevertheless desirable to gradually replace it with private funding.

Our country has suggested channeling auction revenues from the Emission trading system (ETS) towards the protection of the environment and the fight against climate change. It has also underlined both the symbolic and the real purpose of the obligation of fund gathering to finance climate change, mandatory for transparency and credibility reasons of E.U. policy.

Burden sharing among developed countries should be based on the principles of their paying ability and responsibility for gas emission levels. The distribution of expenditure within the European Union, though it should be based on the same principles, should not be agreed during the negotiations over the contribution of the Union as a whole to international funding, in case this will lead to endless internal discussions, which will possibly disorientate the efforts of the E.U. and weaken its role.

Regarding bridging the gap between developed and developing countries, great and substantial efforts, apart from funding, will have to be made by the developed countries in order to technologically support the developing ones. This aid should focus on certain fields depending on the special features of each country.

Concerning the commitments and goals which will form the basic points of the international agreement, Greece believes that obligatory measures of gas emission reduction, comparable to those of the European Union, should be imposed on all developed countries.

Within this framework, Greece accepts criteria such as:

> The Gross Domestic Product per capita (GDP) which reflects the payment ability for reducing local emissions and buying credit units emission reductions from the developing countries,

> The Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions per GDP units, which reveal the reduction ability of local GHG emissions, as well as

> The relation between the population size and the amount of green house gas emissions.

In relation with these long- term goals, Greece supports an ambitious goal of reducing emissions in developed countries, by 80-95% by 2050 in comparison to 1990.

Our country points out that, commitments on reducing emission measures in developing countries with high emission levels (e.g. China, India etc.) should be reassured and, at the same time, guideline goals of reducing emissions and of introducing measures for the rest of the developing countries should be set.

An attempt should be made at guaranteeing the possibility of reexamining the overall progress and the adequacy of commitments and actions, through a possible periodical review, in a given time (e.g. in 2015-2016), so that the overall goal should be reevaluated and in accordance to the current scientific conclusions for the eventually further necessary middle-term commitments and actions.

In the issue of goal conversion in emission reduction from 20% by 30% in case other developed countries agree on similar reductions, Greece is ready to assume its obligations.

We place special emphasis on the creation of a “Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) System” regarding the financial assistance of alleviation on climate change consequences, as well as the actions to be taken. In this manner, it would be reassured that the actions to be approved will be based on the principles of efficiency and necessary transparency.

In the issue of demanded regulations for the Land Use, the Land Use Changes and Forestry (LULUCF) we consider that the development and the adoption of rational methodologies and regulatory processes are required, in order to come to an agreement about the land use, the land use changes and the forestry in developed countries. In any case, all the necessary motives should be provided for the raise of carbon dioxide absorption from the forests and the further protection of the present forest reserves.

As far as the emission reduction by deforestation and forest degradation in developed countries are concerned, deforestation should come to an end by 2020 in regions of significant importance because of tropical forests, among others the Amazon, Indonesia and New Guinea.

Ending deforestation is a measure against climate change that could at the same time guarantee biodiversity’s preservation. In this respect, different national conditions and different stages of development in developing countries require diversification of action and of ambition. This could be achieved by developing national strategies on climate change.

We consider reform of the CDM (Clean Development Mechanism - CDM) crucial to the success of the international agreement. Under the UNFCCC, the reform of the CDM and the promotion of those projects that guarantee additional reductions and are not confined to low-cost options are required.

Our country would promote the interconnection of systems of emissions trading with the U.S. and other developed countries, preferably in the OECD framework, till 2015. It is estimated that this would help the mobilisation of funds necessary for the transition to a global low carbon economy.

Regarding Assigned Amount Units (AAUs) and trading of unused AAUs, Greece stresses the need to ensure environmental integrity in the light of the Copenhagen agreement.

As for targets and reference years, concerning fuel for international air and maritime transport, Greece, like the other European countries, asserts that all measures decided upon, should be applied through the relevant agencies of the United Nations, namely the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), In this context we agreed on specific EU commitments for maritime and aviation sectors with distinct emission reduction targets for greenhouse gases, as follows:

> 10% reduction, with base year 2005 for aviation and

> 20% reduction, with base year 2005 for shipping

Especially for shipping, Greece has proposed a global entente, accepted by other European countries, which will ensure not only environmental protection from any re-registration of vessels and thus the transfer of emission reduction obligations but also the Greek and EU competitiveness.

Finally, we note that we still have reservations concerning the applicability of the new technology of carbon capture and storage (CCS) and thus its role in the discussions on the Copenhagen agreement. These reservations relate to the safety conditions, environmental impact and financial documentation, which must be tested through pilot projects to ensure their environmentally safe application.

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Dernière modification : Monday 02 February 2009