Archived press release

Don't abandon EU climate agenda, says Gordon Brown

15 October 2008

Gordon Brown's comments today [1] in support of the EU climate change agenda has been welcomed by Friends of the Earth. The environmental campaign group warned that failure to tackle climate change could lead to environmental and economic catastrophe.

Europe's climate change plans commit the bloc to cutting its emissions by 20 per cent by 2020 and 30 per cent if a global climate change deal is reached next year. However recent reports reveal that a number of member states intend to abandon plans to automatically increase the target for cutting European emissions from 20 to 30 per cent because of the financial crisis.

Friends of the Earth's Climate Campaigner, Robin Webster, said:

"Gordon Brown is right to highlight the importance of Europe's climate change agenda - urgent action to cut carbon dioxide emissions is essential to safeguard our economy and our environment."

"The Prime Minister must do everything he can to ensure that plans to water down the EU's climate agenda are defeated - and halt UK efforts to try and wriggle out its European renewable energy commitments."

"Even ambitious climate change plans are likely to cost less than one per cent of member states' national income. Delaying action will increase the devastation caused by climate change and make this figure seem like small change."

"Failing to manage the economy properly has created a huge financial headache - failing to tackle climate change could be terminal."

Notes:

1. Speaking in Brussels earlier today [1] the UK Prime Minister said: "This is not the time to abandon a climate change agenda which is important for the future... The climate change agenda is part of the solution for many of the problems we face as a world economy". See http://www.number10.gov.uk/

2. The agenda for the meeting of European Heads of Government bundles together economic, financial, environmental and energy issues including measures to combat climate change and improve Europe's energy security. The full agenda is at: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/08/st12/st12713.en08.pdf

3. The European Renewable Energy Directive will commit Europe to generating 20 per cent of our energy from renewable sources by 2020. Under the Directive the UK will be expected to generate 15 percent of its energy from renewable sources by this date. The UK, along with a number of other countries, is attempting to introduce a series of 'compromise amendments' into the Renewable Energy Directive, which could allow Member States to wriggle out of their commitments.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust