EU launches emissions challenge

Date: 25/09/1997

By Michael Mann

ENVIRONMENT Commissioner Ritt Bjerregaard is preparing to throw down the gauntlet to the rest of the industrialised world by presenting clear evidence that deep cuts in 'greenhouse gases' are not only possible but affordable.

In a paper due to appear next week, Bjerregaard will set out to prove that the EU's intended target of a 15&percent; cut in harmful emissions by 2010 “is economically manageable, technically feasible and politically acceptable”.

But before the paper - which is intended to form the basis of discussions among environment ministers next month ahead of the December Kyoto summit on climate change - can be formally adopted as Commission policy, it will be closely scrutinised by other departments in the institution.

The document, which looks at both general policy orientations and specific measures in individual sectors, does not claim that reducing pollution in line with the EU's ambitious targets will be easy.

“But it need not be excessively expensive if we adopt cost-effective tactics,” insisted an official, who added that a range of measures would be considered.

Above all else, the communication and its accompanying technical dossier are aimed at persuading the rest of the developed world to follow the EU's lead in setting ambitious goals for the first decade of the next century. “We will ask our partners why they are not coming up with target proposals; why they are being so hesitant. The 15&percent; cut we want is feasible, but only if we all work together,” said the official.

Encouraged by positive words from the previously reticent US administration, the Union has turned its attention to persuading Japan of the need for real commitment to the fight against global warming.

“They will host the Kyoto conference and must realise that it will be very embarrassing if they fail to achieve a positive result,” said a spokesman for Bjerregaard.

The initiative follows this week's visit to Europe by the US Under-Secretary of State for Global Affairs Tim Wirth to discuss preparations for Kyoto with both the Commission and key EU governments.

Wirth described climate change as probably “the most important environmental issue the world faces, and one of the most difficult economic issues the world faces”.

He said Washington wanted to know how the Union intended to reach its goal of a 15&percent; cut in emissions by 2010 compared with 1990 levels.

He also pointed out that the EU had the advantage of being able to share the burden between countries.

Under the deal agreed at March's meeting of environment ministers, the UK and Germany face large cuts, while Ireland, Greece and Portugal will actually be allowed to increase their emissions.