Paris climate conference at the end of week one: taking stock

The Paris climate conference began on 30 November. Olivia Gippner assesses the progress made in the first week of discussions, noting that while a negotiating text has been agreed, most of the critical issues have been left for the second week. She writes that one of the trends apparent in the first week is that the EU’s status has changed significantly from the 2009 summit in Copenhagen, with the EU losing some of its leadership role.

EurActiv reported that Poland had blocked an EU push for descarbonisation in the last draft COP21 agreement circulated on 10 December. Previous articles had already taken note of the country's conservative position on climate change.

ESO: Paris Climate Change Conference, November-December 2015 http://www.europeansources.info/record/paris-climate-change-conference-november-december-2015/

EurActiv, 09.12.15: New ‘clean’ COP21 deal due today as deadline looms http://www.euractiv.com/sections/climate-environment/new-clean-cop21-deal-due-today-deadline-looms-320242

France24, 09.12.15: Fabius presents new draft ahead of climate deal deadline http://www.france24.com/en/20151209-fabius-presents-new-draft-ahead-climate-deal-deadline

The Conversation, 09.12.15: Positive Paris talks not like cynical Copenhagen – but how will media cope? http://theconversation.com/positive-paris-talks-not-like-cynical-copenhagen-but-how-will-media-cope-52101

EUObserver, 10.12.15: EU urged to give more climate money to world's poor https://euobserver.com/environment/131459

EurActiv, 11.12.15: Poland drives rewrite of EU decarbonisation stance at COP21 http://www.euractiv.com/sections/climate-environment/poland-drives-rewrite-eu-decarbonisation-stance-cop21-320338

EUObserver, 10.12.15: EU 'optimistic' on climate deal, long night ahead https://euobserver.com/environment/131478

EUObserver, 10.12.15: Coal-dependent Poland 'behaves' in Paris https://euobserver.com/environment/131468

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