Will EU Member States Use Economic Crisis to Weasel out of Climate Targets?

Leaders of some EU countries may use the global financial crisis as an excuse to back out of climate change commitments, according to sources close to the ongoing energy negotiations The Guardian reports that the EU council, which meets next week, will propose dropping the previous commitment to an automatic increase in emissions cuts if the world gets a major climate change agreement next year in Copenhagen – which is a big “if.”

The current EU target of a 20% reduction in emissions by 2020 is set to automatically increase to 30% if a global deal is signed. But apparently, EU is seeking a completely new legislative process if the EU target is to go over 20%.

Last week, it emerged that Poland, Greece, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria had opposed the whole package. Also leaked was that the UK wanted commercial aviation to be taken out of the total energy calculations, which would enable them to more easily meet the goal of getting 20% of its energy from renewable sources.

Environmental groups said the moves could allow countries such as Britain to build a new generation of coal power stations without fear of exceeding their legally binding emission targets. The moves comes in advance of the meeting next week with EU heads of state where the climate change and energy packages will be addressed.

Planning to attend is Britain’s new Minister for Energy and Climate Change, David Miliband. Miliband insists the UK will remain a strong hold on its position. “Now is not the time to row back on our ambitions in tackling climate change,” he said.

“The current economic difficulties make these issues more important, not less. EU ministers have rightly signed up to achieve 20% of energy coming from renewable energy sources by 2020 and it is important we show that we are committed to that target,” added Miliband.

Sources: The Guardian; The Telegraph
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