13 November - The UNFCCC, International Carbon Trading and Agreements - Building towards Copenhagen

This session introduced the nature of international climate agreements (particularly the UNFCCC), examined their content and impact, and assessed the key debates at Copenhagen (COP 15 of the UNFCCC) and also how the negotiations operate from a NGO and Member State perspective.

Presentations made included the below:

• An introduction to the UNFCCC and the consequent international carbon market - Jane Desbarats, Senior Policy Analyst, IEEP
• An introduction to the Copenhagen agenda and bringing together consensus ahead of COP15, the activities of Project Catalyst - Stephen Boucher and Tom Brookes, European Climate Foundation
• International negotiations, what to expect at Copenhagen and insights from the NGO community - Jason Anderson, Head of European Climate and Energy Policy, WWF
• Trading off between Member States and insights into the Council, what to expect before and at COP 15 and the impact on EU activities - Marc Pallemaerts, Head of Environmental Governance Programme, IEEP and lead negotiator for the Belgian Presidency at COP6bis (Bonn) and COP7 (Marrakech) of the UNFCCC

In support of participants the following materials are available:

• Guide to the EU institutions and decision making processes
• A-Z Quick Guide to important EU terms and concepts
• Glossary of commonly used EU acronyms
• Briefing - European Council Establishes EU Position for Copenhagen
• Briefing - Last round of UNFCCC climate talks before Copenhagen
• Briefing - Carbon Market ruling against the Commission