Time to lead
EU Climate and energy package campaign
Crunch time for tackling climate change in Europe
The EU Climate and Energy Package is one of the most comprehensive legislative attempts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by any country or region in the world.
This is Europe’s time to lead!
European and other industrial nations bear the majority of the historical responsibility for climate change, having begun emitting greenhouse gases earliest and due to their continuing high per capita emissions.
In addition, the European Union’s status as one of the world’s largest trading blocks means that the measures it takes to tackle climate change have the potential to show leadership and transform the international debate on how to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. If Europe won’t show the leadership we so desperately need, who will?
European politicians are debating a package of legislation that aims by 2020 to cut the EU’s emissions of greenhouse gases by 20%. Yet, in light of the call from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for developed countries to reduce emissions by 25%-40% by the same time, it is clear that the EU targets are inadequate.
The targets are further undermined by proposals to allow Member States to reduce a large proportion of their emissions by purchasing carbon credits rather than making genuine reductions in their own countries. The outcome of the EU’s Climate and Energy Package will be scrutinised by world leaders when they come together in Copenhagen in December 2009 to negotiate a ‘global deal’ aimed at tackling climate change. Unless the EU shows a strong position of leadership, other countries are unlikely to do what is necessary to avert a climate disaster.
WWF, Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth Europe and Climate Action Network (CAN)-Europe have joined forces to persuade MEPs and governments of EU Member States to step up to the challenge and show true leadership in addressing climate change.
What do we need?
The EU’s decisions will have a major impact on the outcome of the ‘global deal’ international negotiations on climate change to be held in Copenhagen in 2009.
We need to ensure the EU Energy Package sets genuine emissions reduction targets of at least 30% by 2020 as well as providing additional support to encourage developing countries to curb their emissions growth.
How you can help?
Visit www.timetolead.eu and write to your MEP today and join a growing movement across Europe to support a strong EU Climate and Energy Package.