Europe has no plan B

Tuesday, 28 July 2009 07:22

The European Union will use all its influence to get the international community to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 30 percent during talks on a new climate deal, Sweden's environment minister said Saturday.

Speaking at a three-day informal meeting of EU energy and environment ministers, Andreas Carlgren said the 30 percent target had "broad support" among EU members but was conditional on other nations raising their limits.

 “ Europe is ready to assume the leadership", said  Carlgren." The whole world awaits an ambitious agreement. From our side, we have no plan B.”

The EU has already agreed to reduce CO₂ emissions by 20 percent from 1990 levels by 2020.

"We will use the increase from 20 to 30 percent as a lever to gain adequate offers from other countries," Carlgren said.

Sweden, which currently holds the EU presidency, is in charge of the European position at UN-mandated climate change negotiations, which will aim to reach a new, worldwide pact in Copenhagen in December.

"We need to clarify that the EU is prepared to contribute," said Carlgren, referring to the three-day meeting in Are, a town in central-west Sweden, as the "last training camp before the finals."

Teresa Ribera, head of Spain's climate change office, confirmed the unity among EU members on the need for a new climate deal. "No single minister has expressed any type of disagreement regarding any elements" of the proposal, she said.

The EU is set to confirm the target for the Copenhagen conference during a "super week" in October when the European Commission and the bloc's finance and environment ministers convene in separate meetings.

(Source: www.cop15.dk, Le Soir, Brussels)