Website of the UK government
Please note that this website has a UK government accesskeys system.
Main menu
Page menu
Newsroom
Copenhagen: global action on climate change
In Copenhagen, Denmark, this December, more than 180 countries will gather to negotiate and agree a new international deal to tackle climate change. The current international agreement, the Kyoto Protocol, will expire in 2012. Copenhagen, in effect, will create its successor.
The Road to Copenhagen
The Kyoto Protocol set binding targets for 37 industrialised countries and the European Community for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
These targets amount to an average 5 per cent cut in 1990 levels of greenhouse gas emissions over the five-year period 2008 to 2012.
The aim of the Copenhagen conference is to agree more ambitious targets to tackle climate change.
UK ambitions for Copenhagen
The UK will be arguing for an ambitious agreement at Copenhagen and is leading the debate on many key elements of the negotiations, such as:
- how to pay for the action needed to reduce emissions and adapt to climate change
- how to develop and deploy low carbon technology rapidly
- how to reduce global deforestation
- reforming international institutions
The UK's main goal will be to agree urgent action to limit global temperature increases to no more than 2 degrees Celsius.
If the global temperature rises by more than 2 degrees Celsius the risks of dangerous climate change become much greater.
Follow the 'Met Office map' link below for an interactive map showing the global impact of a 4 degree Celsius rise in temperature.
For more about the UK's hopes for the Copenhagen conference, download 'The Road to Copenhagen' by following the link below.
European action
The European Union (EU) has already committed to cut emissions by 30 per cent on 1990 levels by 2020.
Following talks at the EU Council, three conditional offers for Copenhagen will come from Europe. These are:
- the EU will pay its share of the total costs of climate financing (around €100 billion a year by 2020)
- international public financial support in the range of €22-50 billion a year by 2020
- €5-7 billion would be needed to fast-track action after an agreement is signed
The EU offers depend on other countries agreeing to contribute their share and on developing countries making major commitments to reduce emissions.
The Prime Minister said: "These financial offers yet again show the determination of the whole European Union to ensure an ambitious climate change deal in Copenhagen."
Back the UK bid in Copenhagen
Pledge your support for the UK's effort to reach a global deal on climate change.
To back the bid, follow the link below and enter your email address.
In the run up to December, you may be contacted to keep you updated on progress.
