EU: Environmental chief Stavros Dimas says the situation requires urgent action, writes Jamie Smythin Brussels
Europe's environmental chief has urged EU leaders to sign up to binding targets to reduce CO2 emissions and boost the use of green energy.
He has also accused the US of making "easy excuses" in defence of its environmental policy and failing to admit its mistake of shunning the Kyoto Protocol.
EU commissioner Stavros Dimas said yesterday the climate change package being presented to the European Council was of historic importance and any delay in adopting the measures would increase the costs that would have to be paid later.
"The situation requires more urgent action than what was thought a few years ago in 2001. This is what the science is telling us," he said. "We have to take the actions that are needed in a cost efficient way, which means doing it now."
EU leaders will be asked to sign up to a range of binding targets to help tackle climate change by 2020. These are: cutting CO2 emissions by 20 per cent (30 per cent if other big nations agree a global deal); increasing the use of biofuels to 10 per cent of all vehicle fuel; increasing energy efficiency by 20 per cent; and making renewables, such as wind and solar power, account for 20 per cent of energy use.
Mr Dimas, who drew up the EU climate change package, said it would be better if every target is legally binding because member states had shown in the past that signing declarations did not always mean they would implement them. For example, in 1997 EU states agreed to set a target of 12 per cent for renewable energy by 2010. The current figure is 7 per cent and they will miss the 2010 target.
But many states oppose the 20 per cent target for renewable energy, which will be hotly debated by EU leaders. One Slovak diplomat said yesterday it was not a good idea to set such "unrealistic targets". Just 4 per cent of Slovakia's energy comes from renewable sources while the comparable figure in Ireland is 3 per cent.
Mr Dimas said experts had made it clear there are technologies and processes that would enable Europe to meet the 20 per cent target in a cost efficient way. But he said that even if EU leaders could not sign up to the binding renewables target, the 20 per cent binding target for a 20 per cent cut in CO2 would still be valid for Europe.
He dismissed criticism from some businesses that argue that introducing unilateral cuts in greenhouse gas emissions in Europe will simply export jobs to Asia. "It is not reason for them to go; it is a low additional cost and don't forget the Chinese are now very much concerned about pollution and climate change." Mr Dimas said business was very aware of climate change, and in the US firms were lobbying the Bush administration to support the "cap and trade" system, which the EU uses to meet its Kyoto goals. However, the president remains opposed to the measure, which one of his ambassadors in Europe recently described as a "goofy system".
"It's an easy excuse but the actual reason is they do not want to join our endeavours and admit they made a mistake in not ratifying Kyoto," he said.
"They have to find a better argument than attacking the trading system . . . The US is now emitting 16 per cent more than in 1990 while the EU 27 has cut emissions 5 per cent."
Drawing the US into a global deal to cut emissions is one of the goals of the EU climate package and German chancellor Angela Merkel will present it to world leaders at the G8 summit in June. But persuading Washington will not be easy. "We need the US on board and we hope they will do so. The sooner the better," said Mr Dimas.
DIMAS'S DICTATE: Ireland no exception
Environment commissioner Stavros Dimas has dented Government hopes of amending an EU plan to cut the amount of CO2 Irish firms can emit.
The European Commission recently ordered a 6.4 per cent cut in the CO2 allowances that the state allocated to industry for 2008-2012.
Minister for the Environment Dick Roche has been lobbying the commission to get it to amend its decision in favour of Irish industry.
But Mr Dimas yesterday appeared to rule out any concessions. "It [ the ruling] is not a matter of opinion, it is a matter of methodology. We have a methodology that we apply for each country and we end up with a number, so it is not a matter of negotiation. So the numbers are there - we don't change them." The reduction in the CO2 allocation will cost Irish industry tens of millions of euro.
Mr Dimas said it was still possible for Ireland to meet its Kyoto commitments and he was confident the Government would take the necessary steps. Irish CO2 emissions are 24 per cent above 1990 levels. Jamie Smyth