Will COP21 bring a universal binding agreement to keep within the critical 2° threshold? Gilles Pargneaux responds to civil society concerns.

Paris climate talks: failure is not an option

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/12127216/n004-0035-enxx.srt

With the upcoming  Paris Climate Conference,

what are the EU Parliament's  red lines?

Compulsory targets for the  reduction of greenhouse gases,

renewable energies, or for funds  for developing countries?

We met with Chair of the  MEP delegation,

Socialist Gilles Pargneaux  who will be in Paris for COP21.

Hello Mr Pargneaux, there are just  days to go before the Paris conference.

who will be in Paris  as observers for the large part.

Let's go. The first comes  from the environment sector.

needs to put in place  a revision process able to bridge the gap

between the present inadequate  carbon reduction pledges

to stay well below the two degrees  safety threshold.

What are you in the Parliament  going to do to make this happen?

So...  -Indeed it is the agreement of the century

as the Paris agreement must prevent  there being, at the end of the 21st century,

an increase in the global temperature  of over two degrees.

Therefore, everything possible  must be done to ensure initiatives are taken

globally - in Europe  but also worldwide -

If nothing is done, there will be  a global temperature increase

The consequences of this  would be disastrous.

The number of climate refugees  will mushroom if nothing is done.

This question is from the agricultural world,

in the fight against global warming.  Here is the question for you to respond to.

With the COP21 coming up, we hear a lot  about climate smart agriculture

promoting GMOs, biofuels, nanotechnology  as climate change solutions.

We are very worried about this.  Are you aware, MEP Pargneaux,

that the aim of these so-called solutions

is to make the multinationals  that propose them even richer

and as a consequence  to remove all small farmers.

In the 21st century  we have the opportunity

to ensure we focus on creating  environmentally-friendly organic farming.

And of course there will be  financing worldwide

for this more environmentally-friendly  farming model.

The next question is from Poland,  this time on coal.

What will achievement  of the COP21 Agreement mean in practice

So, Mr Pargneaux,  should we still continue to finance coal?

No, the aim of the EU  is to progress to a low-carbon industry

with carbon prices set to send a message  that it's more profitable

to invest in the low-polluting industries  than the high-polluting ones

Yes, but that said, countries are still free  to choose the energy mix they wish to build.

Therefore, Poland is not forbidden as such  from investing in coal.

But the aim in Paris  is to produce a binding agreement:

I hope that it will be binding  for everyone.

This time, will developing countries  have a crucial role to play?

Yes.  -What must we in richer countries do

At stake in COP21,  and the a strong will

with the Chair Laurent Fabius,  Minister of Foreign Affairs,

is to release, through the COP21,  green funding of 100 billion euros per year

from 2020 to go towards  aiding emerging countries.

Final question, from one of the major actors  up to date in this climate field,

it's the former IPCC Vice-Chair,  Jean-Pascal van Ypersele,

who has now left that role,  sends us his contribution. Let's hear it.

What will the European Parliament do  in the coming years

to maintain and develop  the scientific research capacity

which is fundamental, on the one hand  for climatic processes underway -

the dangers and issues -  but also for social processes

which prevent faster development  towards a no-carbon society?

From my view as Parliament's rapporteur  on the COP21,

I believe care must be taken  as the COP21 is this year, 2015,

but there will be COP22 in 2016  and COP23 in 2017.

And of course, we as MEPs  must be the driving force

which is more ambitious than that adopted  by the EU Council a few months ago.

which points must agreement  be reached on?

At the end of COP21, it is crucial that we  can say that the decisions proposed -

the binding decisions,  undertaken universally -

will ensure that  at the end of the of 21st century

the increase in the global temperature  will not exceed two degrees.

Then we will have brought home the bacon.

Thank you, to a job well done in Paris.  -Thank you.