The EU's pledge to unilaterally cut its carbon emissions by 20 per cent by 2020 or 30 per cent if an international deal is reached is 'woefully unambitious', and could easily be increased to a 40 per cent target by 2020, according to new research commissioned by  Friends of the Earth launched today (Tuesday 1 December, 2009).

The research, conducted by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), shows how Europe can cut domestic emissions by 40 per cent in 2020, and by 90 per cent in 2050 – the minimum scale and speed of reductions science says is likely to be needed from rich countries to avert a climate catastrophe.

Using detailed modelling, the study describes a comprehensive pathway for Europe to achieve 40 per cent emissions cuts through a combination of radical improvements in energy efficiency, an accelerated phase-out of fossil fuels, a dramatic shift towards renewable energies, and lifestyle changes.

The study paints a picture of a cleaner, greener future for the continent, with wind power generating 55 per cent of electricity for the continent by 2050; a shift towards public transport away from car journeys, down from 75 per cent of all journeys in 2005 to 43 per cent of journeys in 2050;  and  80 per cent of intra-European flights under 1000km switching to rail in the same time frame. Such changes could make the carbon footprint of the average European 8 times smaller in 2050 than today.

Mike Childs, Head of Climate Change at Friends of the Earth, said:

“Our research clearly shows that the cuts that the EU has offered ahead of vital UN talks in Copenhagen next week are woefully unambitious and inadequate. The EU could cut its emissions by 40 per cent by 2020.

“The EU must pledge to slash its emissions by at least 40 per cent by 2020 without carbon offsetting, rather than the paltry 20 per cent reduction with
offsetting that they have put on the table so far. Offsetting does not to work - it is a con which simple means they are passing the buck in cutting emissions to the world's poorest.

“Europe has a responsibility to lead by cutting emissions first and fast, and to provide cold, hard cash to ensure that developing countries can grow cleanly and adapt to the effects already causing suffering and misery for millions.”

Dr Charles Heaps, lead author of the report and a senior scientist in the Stockholm Environment Institute’s climate and energy program, said:

“Our analysis shows that deep cuts in emissions can be achieved in Europe at reasonable cost between now and 2050, even with rather conservative assumptions about technological improvement.

“The scale and speed of changes required may seem daunting, and indeed it will require a mobilisation of Europe’s economies, but the potential costs of inaction are so large that doing nothing presents a far more implausible and dangerous future pathway for Europe.”

The study also shows that even ambitious actions to cut emissions at home will not be enough to keep the planet safe from dangerous climate change and that the EU and others with the capacity and responsibility, must support the developing world’s climate challenge. The EU’s fair share of finances for the developing world for both mitigating and adapting to climate change amounts to between €150 billion and €450 billion per year by 2020 - another 1 per cent to 3 per cent of the EU’s GDP, or less than €3 per day per person according to the study.

Friends of the Earth is demanding that the Government changes its approach to climate change with its Demand Climate Change campaign. The green campaign group is asking everyone to sign its international petition to world leaders for a strong and fair climate deal at www.demandclimatechange.org.

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. The full report ‘Europe’s Share of the Climate Challenge: Domestic Actions and International Obligations to Protect the Planet’ is available at:
http://www.sei-international.org/?p=publications&task=view&pid=1318

2. Friends of the Earth believes that a 40% cut in emissions by 2020 should be measured against a baseline of 1990 emissions.

3. A press conference hosted by Friends of the Earth Europe will be held on December 1st in Brussels, Belgium to launch the report.  The launch will be
attended by Dr. Charles Heaps of the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI). Dr. Heaps is a lead author of the report and a senior scientist in SEI’s climate and energy research program. Dr. Heaps has worked on energy policy and climate change mitigation for more than 20 years and is also the developer of the LEAP
software system used in this study.

4. The Stockholm Environment Institute is an independent, international research institute working on environment and development issues. The institute’s goal is
to bridge science and policy on sustainability.

5. Friends of the Earth is demanding that the Government changes its approach to climate change with its Demand Climate Change campaign. The green campaign group is asking everyone to sign its international petition to world leaders for a strong and fair climate deal at www.demandclimatechange.org.

Friends of the Earth is calling for:
*    The Government to abandon its promotion of carbon offsetting - a con which means avoiding real action at home through dodgy accounting - and pledge to cut
emissions by at least 40 per cent by 2020 at home;
*    Rich countries to acknowledge their legal and moral responsibility to provide new money for developing countries, distributed through the UN, so that
they can grow cleanly and adapt to the effects of climate change which are already putting millions of lives at risk;
*    Proposals to be scrapped which would allow rich countries to buy chunks of forest whilst continuing to pump out emissions: an approach which won't solve
climate change or halt deforestation.