EuLA (2013). The 2015 International Climate Change Agreement – Shaping international climate policy beyond 2020

EuLA supports the Commission in its efforts to reach an international climate agreement that aims at  creating a global level playing field for companies and that contributes to avoiding carbon leakage.

An international climate agreement can however only be effective if it contains legally binding  reduction targets, and results in equivalent CO2 reductions (as measured by a sector’s marginal  abatement cost).

Abatement costs will be largely influenced by the availability and cost of a low carbon fuel mix.  Current gas prices in the US are for example 3 to 4 times lower than the prices that are paid by  European producers. These price differences have to be taken into account when evaluating the  efforts made by other countries.

EuLA has the impression that the Commission mainly focusses on the efforts made by large  economies or upcoming economic powers. Up till today however most lime products are not  transported over long distances. This means that the lime industry’s main competitors are located in  the EU’s immediate neighbourhood (Turkey, Northern Africa, Ukraine, Russia, etc.). In order to foster  a level playing field, the Commission should especially pay attention to the efforts made by those  countries surrounding the EU-27.

The EU should also consider integrating “energy” and “climate” requirements in any international  agreements with its trade partners. “Energy and climate” clauses should for example be part of any  Free Trade Agreement, especially if the trading partner in question has not assumed any carbon  reduction commitments – or has access to a relatively cheap low-carbon fuel mix. “Climate and  energy” targets could also be further promoted by means of the EU Neighborhood policy.