European energy and environment ministers meeting in Seville, Spain this weekend are expected to call on the EU to implement the Copenhagen Accord and urge other countries to follow suit, according to reports.

Although the Copenhagen Accord fell short of many expectations for the meeting in December, it could form the basis of a more wide-reaching climate agreement later this year.

The Accord set a deadline of the end of January for nations to submit plans for reducing emissions to the United Nations.

The EU is now under pressure to increase its existing reduction target of 20% on 1990 levels by 2020 to a 30% cut, which is said it would be willing to implement if other developed nations committed to similar targets.

The EU Spanish Presidency will now have to lead efforts to progress the points raised in Copenhagen and move the process forward.

US climate change envoy, Todd Stern, is also urging nations to submit their emission reduction targets, according to Reuters.

The report indicates that in addition to the just under 30 countries that have signed up to the Accord, a further 20-30 have stated that they are willing to sign up and 30-40 have privately promised to do so.

For further information:
http://cop15.dk/
www.eu2010.es/

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