26/08/2005 – Floods and
mudslides in the Alps and Danube basin, fires
in the Iberian Peninsula, drought destroying
harvest in France, Spain and Portugal — these
are signals of a world suffering from climate
change.
"To reduce the likelihood of these horrible
weather events happening more often, carbon
dioxide (CO2) emissions must be reduced,"
said Jennifer Morgan Director of the WWF Climate
Change Programme.
According to a new WWF paper, it is in the
power sector, the largest emitter of CO2,
where Europe must address the increase and
severity of recent extreme weather events
and their disastrous consequences.
The paper, Climate change and extreme weather
events in Europe, provides the latest scientific
findings on this issue, addressing such direct
factors as land use and water management.
Direct emergency help for the people concerned
must be the main immediate focus, but in order
to reduce the frequency and intensity of such
events in the future, political and business
leaders must decide to rapidly reduce CO2
emissions. To cut CO2 emissions, Europe should
start with the biggest emitters, the electricity
producers.
The power sector is responsible for 37 per
cent of global and 39 per cent of European
CO2 emissions (CO2 is emitted when fossil
fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas are
being burnt). The German power producer RWE,
for instance, is expected to decide this autumn
on building a new coal-fired power station,
the worst option for the climate
"The largest European climate polluter,
RWE, continues to plan for new coal power
stations, which drive up global warming,"
added Morgan. "European governments can
and must stop this."
The obvious way for European governments
to enforce strict pollution limits is under
the European Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).
Since January 2005, the ETS has placed CO2
limits on big companies. Unfortunately, EU
governments have so far agreed only to weak
limits.
Tough pollution limits, combined with a powerful
financial incentive to invest in cleaner,
more efficient technologies, would transform
the power sector and reduce CO2 emissions.
With the ETS being reviewed this year, WWF
sees this as a vital opportunity to get it
right.
"Climate change has started to exacerbate
the frequency and intensity of these weather
catastrophes," said Oliver Rapf, Head
of Climate change unit at WWF's European Policy
Office.
"European politicians need to cut down
emissions from the power sector now."
Notes to editors:
• The paper 'Climate change and extreme weather
events in Europe' (August 2005, four pages)
can be downloaded from http://www.panda.org/downloads/climate_change/climateimpactsineuropefinal24805.pdf
• The recently released report “Europe feels
the heat - Extreme weather and the power sector”,
showing the European capitals warming by sometimes
more than 2°C in the last 30 years can
be downloaded from www.panda.org/powerswitch
• The 'Mediterranean 2°C report', a scenario
for the Mediterranean in a world two degrees
Celsius warmer then before the industrial
revolution, can be downloaded from http://www.panda.org/climate/med2degrees
• A study produced by Allianz Group and WWF
“Climate Change & the Financial Sector
– An Agenda for Action” can be downloaded
from
http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/what_we_do/climate_change/news/news.cfm?uNewsID=21477
