The EU’s new Commissioner for Climate Action, Connie Hedegaard, has started an international tour as the European Commission looks to build international consensus on global warming. European Commission President José Manuel Barrosa indicated that the EU is looking to “keep up the momentum” in negotiations following Copenhagen.

Recognising the need for global participation, the Commission is looking to integrate the guidance from the Copenhagen Accord into a roadmap to achieve a politically binding agreement at COP-16, which will beheld in Mexico at the end of 2010. The roadmap, including specific deliverable objectives, will be developed during two negotiation sessions beginning in April.

Hedegaard has highlighted the need for a legally binding agreement and hopes that a deal can be reached in Mexico. The Commission is pressing for the EU to show leadership by starting to implement the Accord, which was not formally adopted as a UN decision and is not binding. The Commission intends to outline a route for Europe’s transition to a low-carbon economy by 2050 later this year.

By Jason Grove, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)