10 Jan 2007 - Brussels, Belgium – The European Commission’s
proposals today for a “new industrial revolution” in Europe’s
supply and use of energy are inadequate and should be strengthened
if the EU is to lead the world in heading off the devastating
environmental and economic impacts of climate change, says
WWF.
The Commission has proposed a target to reduce the EU’s
greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent by 2020 from 11000
levels. WWF says that a unilateral EU target of 30 per cent
by 2020, in addition to support to developing countries
for reducing their emissions, is the only hope we have of
avoiding dangerous climate change by staying below a 2°C
rise in global average temperatures.
WWF is looking to Germany, holder of the EU Presidency
for the next six months, and other countries that like Germany
are already backing the higher 30 per cent greenhouse gas
reduction target (including the UK, Sweden and France) to
fight for EU global leadership on climate change and strengthen
the proposal at the European Council in March.
"What the European Commission calls a new industrial
revolution conceals the fact that what we are talking about
is massive changes in the way the entire economy works,"
said Stephan Singer, Head of WWF's European Climate and
Energy Unit.
"We will need new ways to produce energy, re-think
the way transport is organized and ensure new and highly
efficient products are promoted to heat and light our homes
and workplaces."
The energy package presented by the Commission falls well
short of this new vision. Facing up to this transformation
is full of opportunities for reducing our dependence on
volatile energy imports, creating new energy efficient technologies
and opening new green markets for European-produced goods
and services.
“Too much emphasis is still given to oil and gas supply
pipelines and other technical solutions and too little about
the real possibilities to diversify energy sources giving
priority to renewables and more efficiency,” added Singer.
“The paper is focused on the costs rather than benefits
of fighting dangerous climate change. Europe will never
become the leader in cutting greenhouse gas emissions globally
if it sticks to this narrow approach.”
Dr Stephan Singer, Head of European Climate and Energy
Unit
WWF European Policy Office
Claudia Delpero, Communications Manager
WWF European Policy Office
