DAILY NEWS
EU "has started to walk the walk" on climate change
12/12/08. Brussels. Senior members of the European Parliament today said the EU was on the brink of a "historic" agreement on climate change that would open the way to a worldwide deal in Copenhagen next year.
Said Socialist Group vice-president Linda McAvan, who has responsiblity for climate change issues: "Europe has been talking the talk for a long time on climate change — but today it began to walk the walk. It seems we now have measures to deal with a wide range of climate change factors including emission trading and cars. There is still detail to resolve over the weekend but we are moving in the right direction."
Guido Sacconi, chair of the European Parliament climate change committee, said: "We are taking the first steps on a long road to a low-carbon society. Concessions have been made but we are on track to deliver the 2020 targets. "
Socialist Group leader Martin Schulz said: "We have within our grasp a deal that strikes a good balance between safeguarding jobs and acting on climate change. Members of my group played a pivotal role in securing today's progress. The Summit has taken on board many of our demands."
The Euro MPs stressed that crucial talks over the weekend still have to thrash out important details. The full European Parliament also has to approve the EU Summit deal in a Strasbourg vote on Wednesday.
Parliamentary demands accepted by the summit include: a 60 per cent cut in CO2 from cars by 2020; using half the funds from an emissions trading scheme to help developing countries tackle climate change; measures to help developing countries offset emissions; and a huge growth in the use of renewable energy.
Said Socialist Group vice-president Linda McAvan, who has responsiblity for climate change issues: "Europe has been talking the talk for a long time on climate change — but today it began to walk the walk. It seems we now have measures to deal with a wide range of climate change factors including emission trading and cars. There is still detail to resolve over the weekend but we are moving in the right direction."
Guido Sacconi, chair of the European Parliament climate change committee, said: "We are taking the first steps on a long road to a low-carbon society. Concessions have been made but we are on track to deliver the 2020 targets. "
Socialist Group leader Martin Schulz said: "We have within our grasp a deal that strikes a good balance between safeguarding jobs and acting on climate change. Members of my group played a pivotal role in securing today's progress. The Summit has taken on board many of our demands."
The Euro MPs stressed that crucial talks over the weekend still have to thrash out important details. The full European Parliament also has to approve the EU Summit deal in a Strasbourg vote on Wednesday.
Parliamentary demands accepted by the summit include: a 60 per cent cut in CO2 from cars by 2020; using half the funds from an emissions trading scheme to help developing countries tackle climate change; measures to help developing countries offset emissions; and a huge growth in the use of renewable energy.
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