Following the outcome of the 17th international climate negotiations conference held in December 2011 in Durban (COP17), global climate negotiators are working on a future global climate agreement due to be concluded by 2015, and implemented by 2020. The 2012 Conference (COP18) will be held in Qatar.

 The ETUC has adopted a position towards Qatar Cop18.

While the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), welcomed the Durban platform and acknowledges that the EU showed itself to be responsible and unified, every delay in reaching international consensus is increasing the eventual cost (economically, socially and environmentally) and reducing the chance keeping global temperatures within a safe range.

What are the challenges?

The negotiations in Durban managed to save the UN climate process, paving the way for a final round of discussions on three key issues for the union movement:

 The reduction CO2 emissions under a second commitment period for the Kyoto Protocol which expires in December 2012;
 the ‘Durban Platform’, which consists of 2 elements. Firstly a work plan on enhanced ambition and, secondly, the negotiation of a new legally binding agreement applicable to all, to be finalised by 2015 and in force by 2020;
 further work on key components of the Cancun Agreements (2010) on: global emission reductions to keep the global average temperature rise below 2°C; a Just Transition within response measures; market-based mechanisms to deliver CO2 reductions; the mobilization of scaled-up funds for developing countries to take greater and more effective action; and the establishment of institutions to realise these objectives.

Climate change negotiations an international development

After the adoption of a UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the next major development in climate negotiations was the entry into force of the Kyoto protocol in 2005, an agreement with stricter demands for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions.

Since the adoption of the UN Framework on Climate Change, (UNFCC) heads of State and governments that have ratified the UNFCC, meet annually.

In 2009, the United Nations Climate Change Conference was held in Denmark, known as the Copenhagen Summit was held in Denmark

The Copenhagen Summit produced the Copenhagen Accord, a non-binding agreement that allows for a reduction in CO2 emissions to limit global warming, and would extend the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012.

The ETUC produced a brochure used as a proposed trade union strategy at the Copenhagen Conference. The brochure also includes the analysis drawn up by the ETUC following the failure of the Copenhagen negotiations, and sets out some potential avenues for the future.

In 2010, the UN Climate Change Conference was held in Cancún, Mexico. This conference produced the so-called Cancún Agreements. While the Cancún Agreements are not legally binding, they represent an important step forward in negotiations. In particular regarding plans for carbon-capture to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and in help for developing nations to protect themselves from the impact of climate change and build their own sustainable futures.

The ETUC brochure produced for the Conference in Cancun details the position of the European Trade Union movement, in view of the climate negotiations held in Cancun.

In 2011, the UN Climate Change Conference was held in Durban, South Africa.

The Conference decided on the "Durban Platform for Enhanced Action". This document commits all countries to cutting carbon for the first time. A "road map" will guide countries towards a legal deal to cut carbon in 2015, but it will only come into effect after 2020.

With the Kyoto Protocol set to expire in 2012, these international negotiations in Durban were crucial for ensuring the future framework for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. In this perspective, the ETUC adopted a resolution on the EU position at Durban COP17 reproduced in a brochure.