Editorial

24 January 2008 - Although some are moaning that the EU climate ambitions are not enough to effectively combat climate change, the European Commission made quite an achievement yesterday. The Energy and Climate package has graduated and is now entering the next stage of approval procedures.

There are still some loose ends. No doubt hot discussions will continue on topics like the costs for the heavy industry, the sustainability of biofuels and the minimum requirement of 35% greenhouse gas emissions reduction, and the international trade of green energy. Surprisingly, the individual targets per country are not the hottest issue at all. No doubt some countries will object to their binding targets for renewables and energy efficiency - but most of them won’t.

It is very interesting to analyse how these high ambitions could be established in the first place. It was all hidden in one short phrase of Environmental Commissioner Dimas during the press conference: he began his speech by explicitly thanking President Barroso for his efforts. Most definitely, Barroso has played a crucial role in the EU plans. This paints the perspective. Moreover, top leaders in Europe have been brainwashed by Al Gore and the IPCC, in a positive sense. Instead of breaking every climate initiative of their citizens and their civil servants – like they did before - they now are truly leading in the fight against climate change.

There is a danger in that. Presidents are replaced, next year the whole Commission will be newly installed after the elections of the Parliament. Can we be assured that new Presidents will have the same climate ambitions? From the US experiences we know some presidential minds are not ready to be brainwashed.

We should not be too negative about that. Environment is no monopoly for left-wing parties anymore. Meanwhile, let’s count our blessings. The documents that now have been presented are not a small step, but a giant leap forward. In the democratic EU processes the discussions mentioned above are serious, but not hopeless. So don’t let them slow down the pace.

Rolf de Vos
Editor in chief
GreenPrices
r.devos@greenprices.com

Source: GP Newsdesk

		The content of this site is provided by Ecofys B.V. Read the Terms and Conditions Greenprices.