Press Release

15/11/2005

Anders Wijkman MEP Report on Global Climate Change

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Anders Wijkman MEP will present his report on beating global climate change to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday 16 November.

The Commission Communication is designed as the Commission's contribution to the discussion on the post 2012 international framework to fight against climate change. Wijkman's report is the European Parliament's contribution to that discussion together with its position in view of the first Meeting of Parties of the Climate Change Convention, which takes place in Montreal in December.

There are several key elements:

• The need for ambitious long-term emission reduction targets; 15-30% for 2020 and 60-80% for 2050
  
• The EU represents only 14% of emissions. Hence it is fundamental to engage other major actors, notably the US
  
• A strategic partnership with China, India, Brazil, etc. is favoured in order to give support to technology leapfrogging; developing countries don't have to repeat our polluting mistakes
  
• Climate change mitigations should not be seen primarily as a burden; new opportunities open up for businesses as well as society as a whole
  
• Strong domestic action, giving primary importance to energy efficiency and renewables
  
• Proposals are called for to stabilise or reduce traffic volumes in the EU between 2010 and - in particular - reduce CO2 emissions; one important suggestion is to establish mandatory emissions targets for vehicles (80-100g CO2/km) in the medium term
  
• Prompt action called for to reduce the climate impact from aviation by creating a pilot emissions trading scheme for aviation emissions for the period 2008-2012
  
• The need for a Crash Programme to promote research and innovation in support of sustainable energy and effective land-use management
  
• An effective organisation of energy production from biomass in terms of energy conversion and ecological sustainability
  
• Efforts to engage European Citizens more fully in emissions reductions with the possibility of introducing emissions trading at the level of the citizens; this will require, as a first step, enhanced knowledge and information about carbon content of products ad services
  
• EU institutions should set a positive example by turning their office into the most energy-efficient possible, as well as minimising carbon emissions during travel; the double location of the European Parliament is strongly questioned because of the resulting extra CO2 emissions.

"Climate change is often perceived as an environment problem. This is wrong, a warmer climate means a more unstable climate and that is a security threat for Europe and the world. All sectors of society may be negatively affected," said Anders Wijkman.


Further information:
Anders Wijkman MEP tel.: +32 2 28 45401
Majella O Doherty, EPP-ED press service, tel.: +32 475 752253