What is 'COP15'?

The 'Earth Summit' in Rio resulted in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The Convention forms the legal basis for global efforts to address climate change. Meetings of the Convention, known as Conferences of the Parties (COPs), have taken place every year since 1994. The Kyoto Protocol, signed in 1997 as an extension of the UNFCCC, is a first step in long-term global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These efforts are needed to prevent dangerous levels of climate change and to mitigate the rise in the global average temperature, as described in the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). In addition, global action is needed to adapt to climate change.

The first commitment period of the Protocol expires in 2012 and 'COP 15' is expected to produce a successor.

The EEA's role at COP15 in an EU context

The European Union is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20 % below 1990 levels by 2020 – and is ready to take on a 30 % target if a fair and effective international agreement can be achieved in Copenhagen. The EEA, an EU Agency, supports other EU institutions in this objective by regularly 'counting greenhouse gases'. Moreover, the EEA addresses climate change in Europe in terms of impact, vulnerability and adaptation measures. These activities are relevant for the European Community’s contributions to the international process on climate change.

EEA activities around COP15

While contributing to the work of other EU institutions, the EEA also provides information to the general public on climate issues. In cooperation with the City of Copenhagen and other partners, the Agency is hosting a series of events and activities in the run-up to and during the COP 15 international climate conference. Some of these events can be found in the calendar of events by EEA and its partners.

Data sources for the above figure.