Building a global climate change alliance between the European Union and poor developing countries most vulnerable to climate change

The Council held a policy debate on the international financial architecture for combating climate change, relating to:

• the principles governing the definition and implementation of the post-2012 international financial architecture for combating climate change,
• the instruments of that financial architecture, including the role of the Global Environment Facility (GEF),
• possibilities for conditionality, particularly for the large emerging countries.

The Council affirms the EU's resolve to build a wide coalition for the future of the planet bringing together in particular the EU and those countries which are the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. To this end, it highlights its intention to strengthen its partnership with Africa, the Least Developed Countries and the small island developing States so as to ensure that these regions benefit from the provisions of the Copenhagen agreement and can ensure growth, access to clean energy and the eradication of poverty with a view to their sustainable development. It welcomes in this respect the Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA) endorsed by the June 2008 European Council which constitutes a comprehensive political dialogue and cooperation framework.