United States And European Union Relations - Research Paper Example

Concurrently, the EU established the European Climate Change Programme with the intent of “identifying the most environmental-friendly and cost-effective ways to enable the EU to meet its target under the Kyoto Protocol.” The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement bridged to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Its main attribute is that it sets binding goals for 37 developed countries and the European countries for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The European Commission issued its schemes for a new energy policy for Europe. This represents the EU’s attempt to align its energy and climate policies. Typified as setting the pace for a “new global industrial revolution”, it asserts to commence the process of delivering a low carbon economy for Europe. However, the Commission needs to improve and expand the EUETS because of some limitations and to address criticisms. US and EU views on how to embark upon global climate change have been characterized by widely conflicting opinions on the significance of technology, the economic costs, the role of developing countries and the nature of importance of binding multilateral diminutions targets with or without trading means.

However, with the enforcement of the Kyoto Protocol, and the recognition by the Kyoto Parties that medium to longer-term targets is likely to be complex to achieve than the previous commitment period Kyoto targets, the chance to move the pursuit of climate change agenda has arisen.