consultations on negotiation issues before this Conference, neither side fully
understood the bottom line of the other side on decisive issues with intense con-
flicts, resulting in fierce clashes between the two sides on key issues at this
Conference. Both China and the EU had a strong desire to push ahead with
negotiations, with the post-Kyoto climate governance mechanism and urge the
USA to undertake obligations, but the original intention failed to be realized due to
improper tactics and means.
9.3.3.4 The Durban Platform
After the Copenhagen Conference, China-EU cooperation in global climate gov-
ernance was restored. The EU softened its stand somewhat and expressed will-
ingness to consider issues concerning the second commitment period of the
Protocol. China realized that from a long-term perspective, as a large emitter, it
must gradually undertake international emission reduction obligations commensu-
rate with its stage of development. In the Durban Conference, as the domestic
economy in the USA had become sluggish, the general public had the lowest level
of concern about climate change and as there was a presidential election, the USA
took“no losing points”as its goal. BRICs and the EU became the important forces
for boosting global climate cooperation during the Durban Conference.
Specifically, BRICs and the EU decided to implement the second commitment
period of the Protocol, launch the Green Climate Fund, build the Durban Platform
for Enhanced Action and identify negotiation progress in agreements after 2020.
Second, the climate change partnership and the multi-tier consultation dialogue
mechanism was established between China and the EU^28 and became a beneficial
supplement to cooperation between the two sides within the framework of the
Convention and the Protocol. China and the EU announced the establishment of the
China-EU Climate Change Partnership in 2005 for strengthening policy dialogue
and cooperation in the area of climate change. China and the EU used bilateral
mechanisms to enhance communication, deepen mutual understanding so as to play
positive roles in promoting global climate negotiations, especially bringing the
USA back into climate negotiations. In theJoint Declaration of the 10th China-EU
Leaders’ Meeting in 2007, according to the principle of “Common but
Differentiated Responsibilities”, both sides stressed that developed countries should
(^28) The China-EU multi-tier cooperation mechanism covers the following contents:first, the leaders
dialogue mechanism under the framework of the China-EU Summit. The climate issue entered the
dialogue agenda as from the 5th China-EU Leaders' Meeting in 2002. Second, the China-EU
bilateral consultation mechanism. The Climate Change Ministerial Dialogue, the China-EU
Environmental Policy Ministerial Dialogue, the China-EU Energy Cooperation Meeting, the
China-EU High-level Energy Meeting were regularly held as from 2005. Third, the China-EU
Project Cooperation. China-EU projects gradually extended from original cooperation in technical
fields to experience exchange and capacity building. Fourth, cooperation between China and EU
member states.
9 China-EU Relations in the Context of Global Climate Governance 181