20 Feb 2007 - Brussels, Belgium – As part of a European
energy policy to combat climate change, EU environment ministers
have agreed on continent-wide plans to cut greenhouse gases
by as much as 30 per cent.
Despite attempts to water down proposals — particularly
by Finland and Poland — the EU Environment Council has backed
a unilateral target to cut carbon emissions by 2020 to 20
per cent, and supported a 30 per cent reduction target if
other nations would make efforts to control global warming.
In order to stay below an internationally accepted 2°C
global warming threshold — and an objective stated by European
governments — an overall greenhouse gas reduction of approximately
30 per cent by 2020, and 80 per cent by mid-century compared
to 11000 levels, is needed in all developed nations.
“Today’s decision confirms the EU preparedness to fulfil
its international commitments,” says Stephan Singer, Head
of WWF’s European Climate and Energy Unit.
“However, to build a house with solid foundations, the
EU should immediately put in place concrete measures to
achieve such targets and have a strategy to both mobilise
resources and engage other countries for the period after
2012.”
The next step is for EU heads of state to endorse the proposed
targets at the next European Council meeting, scheduled
to take place from 8 to 9 March.
Dr Stephan Singer, Head of European Climate and Energy Unit
WWF European Policy Office
Claudia Delpero, Communications Manager
WWF European Policy Office
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Make love, not CO2!
14 Feb 2007 - Brussels, Belgium – It’s Valentine’s Day
and love is in the air, along with lots of carbon dioxide.
WWF is calling on European energy ministers to “make love,
not CO2” on February 15 by either voting for deep cuts in
carbon emissions or staying in bed for a nice cuddle.
EU energy ministers meeting in Brussels on February 15
have an incredible opportunity to leave a little love-note
for the planet. Making sure that 20 to 25 per cent of energy
in the EU comes from renewable sources by 2020, rather than
caving-in to passionless old-fashioned energy policies,
they can make sure that in the future temperatures will
rise only in appropriate circumstances.
WWF suggests that any minister planning to vote for anything
less than this target should extend their Valentine’s night
festivities and stay in bed smooching — leaving the ministers
who have enough foresight to protect both Europe and the
planet to ensure that the right decision is reached by the
Council.
Stephan Singer, Head of WWF's European Climate and Energy
Unit, said: “It’s really quite wonderful that these politicians
could change the world by staying in bed and making love.
It’s like John Lennon and Yoko Ono all over again. The EU’s
largest countries – Germany, UK, France and Italy – have
already said that they want a 20 to 30 per cent cut in emissions.
This should translate in strong legislation with mandatory
targets on renewables. Hopefully, any minister planning
to vote for less will be tucked up in bed rather than at
the Council meeting.”
Dr. Stephan Singer, Head
WWF European Climate and Energy Unit
Claudia Delpero, Communications Manager, WWF European Policy
Office,
Translating positive words into positive action to reduce
global warming
16 Feb 2007 - Gland, Switzerland – The announcement by
legislators from the top polluting countries in the world
that negotiations for the next round of emission cuts should
end no later than 2009 is a positive development in the
battle to slow global warming, says WWF.
"The conclusions of the meeting may be voluntary and
not legally binding but they are still important in building
confidence between the industrialised and the biggest developing
economies," says Hans Verolme, Director of WWF's Global
Climate Change Programme.
"It is also an indication that the US is readying
itself to take its historical responsibility as seriously
as Europe and Japan are already doing."
The global conservation organization welcomed the meeting
of G8 legislators along with parliamentarians from the five
biggest developing economies (Brazil, China, India, Mexico
and South Africa) as it showed clear support from developing
states for making a real contribution to the climate talks
by voluntary actions that reduce dependence on imported
energy and polluton for their own countries.
The meeting, convened in Washington DC by US Senators John
McCain and Joseph Lieberman, sets the scene for legally
binding negotiations in December this year in Bali, Indonesia,
under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and
the Kyoto Protocol.
The negotiations in Bali will determine how 190 countries
can reach a global deal to limit CO2 emissions further,
after the first phase of the Kyoto Protocol expires by end
2012.
WWF wants the positive statements made at the Washington
meeting to translate into action.
The EU should decide at its spring Council meeting (8–9
March 2007) to set a target for reducing greenhouse gas
emissions by 30 per cent by 2020.
G8 heads of state should publicly support a mandate for
all 190 UN countries to negotiate similarly deep emission
cuts for all industrialised countries. They also should
agree on massive financial and clean technology support
for developing countries.
Brian Thomson, Press Officer
WWF International
Martin Hiller, Communications Manager
WWF Global Climate Change Programme
A slow growth of renewables in EU energy policy
15 Feb 2007 - Brussels, Belgium - European Energy Ministers
gathering today at the EU Energy Council made a positive
move by agreeing that 20 per cent of energy used in Europe
should come from renewable sources and 10 per cent of transport
fuel from biofuels by 2020.
However, such objectives should be translated into mandatory
targets per different sectors (including electricity) rather
than being left to the goodwill of EU Member States.
“Only four months ago it seemed impossible to have this
goal written in black and white. It is now essential that
these objectives become legally binding”, says Stephan Singer,
Head of European Climate and Energy Unit at WWF.
“Voluntary targets are bound to fail. We urge European
Heads of State and Government, meeting at the European Council
in March, to take advantage of this momentum and set clear,
binding targets”.
Other improvements to the so-called “EU energy package”
are still needed to make sure that Europe really moves towards
a low carbon future. A stringent target (30 per cent) for
greenhouse gas reduction by 2020 is essential for concrete
actions and laws to lead the EU towards a sustainable energy
path and contribute to fighting climate change.
Also, the full unbundling of energy grid ownership, coupled
with the liberalisation of the energy markets are key to
allow energy from renewable sources to enter the markets.
The climate part of the “EU energy package” will be examined
on 20 February by the EU Environment Council. Subsequently,
on 8-9 March, European Heads of State and Government meeting
at the European Council will make the final decision.
"It is essential that a sound Energy Policy for Europe
emerges from that meeting for European international credibility
and the future of next generations", adds Stephan Singer.
Dr. Stephan Singer, Head of European Climate and Energy
Unit at WWF,
Claudia Delpero, Communications Manager, WWF European Policy
Office,
