30 March 2012

Despite being a substantial and growing source of emissions, shipping is the only sector the EU has not yet included in its efforts to decarbonise the economy. CAN Europe and a number of other non-governmental organizations have written to the Commission urging them to act on this issue.

The letter calls on the Commission to make 2012 the year in which emissions from shipping and other forms of maritime transport are addressed in Europe. Adding to this, the EU is urged to do so in a way that contributes towards the development of a fair and ambitious eventual global scheme within the International Maritime Organization and helps build momentum in the international climate change discussions under the UNFCCC towards a fair and ambitious legally binding agreement by 2015.

The letter highlights several important issues, amongst them:

• The need to ensure there is a polluters pay principle through strict emissions reduction targets and a market-based mechanism to reduce emissions inline with the EU's wider transport targets by 40% if not 50% by 2050.
• Any agreement needs to be comprehensive and should cover all ships entering and leaving the EU, incentivisng genuine emissions reductions within the maritime sector while limiting access to offsets.
• Revenues raised should be used to further climate action, and also ensure that the impact of any proposal on developing countries, particularly the poorest and Least Developed Countries is considered through appropriate measures.

Download the full letter here

16 March 2012

A veto is an act of desperation, but it carries weight if used wisely. The more you use it, the more meaningless it becomes. The Polish media is already speculating about the prospect of a third Polish veto, if the Low-Carbon Roadmap is on the agenda of the June Energy Council. By stubbornly rejecting the EU’s shared vision to move towards a green energy future, Poland is ultimately vetoing modernisation of its own economy and further isolating itself. Meanwhile the EU’s climate agenda remains very much alive, and is strongly supported by the other 26 Member States. This support was bolstered by the European Parliament’s endorsement of the ‘Low Carbon Roadmap’ on the 15 March. 

It didn’t come as a surprise that Poland used another veto at the last Environment Ministers meeting on Friday.

Read more...

30 January 2012

Today the European Commission published a long-awaited paper that outlines the numerous benefits increased climate action would bring Europe. Analysis of "Options to move beyond 20% greenhouse gas emission reductions: Member State results" finds that increased EU climate ambition will deliver great financial, health and environmental benefits for all member states. The study, which was completed at the request of EU environment ministers, shows that moving beyond 20% emission reductions by the year 2020 is feasible, beneficial and much cheaper than previously thought.

“This study is important because it offers Member States a way to ensure greater stability and resilience against oil price and supply fluctuations, which in turn will create stronger economies and a healthier environment in all of Europe,” said Julia Michalak, EU Climate Policy Officer at CAN Europe.

“The Commission’s findings remove any doubt about the benefits of stronger European-wide climate action,” Michalak continued. “Higher targets will benefit the EU’s citizens and economy as well as poorer countries already experiencing the effects of climate change in other parts of the world.”

CAN Europe urges all 27 EU member states to act on this analysis and support a shift towards a more ambitious target by increasing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from all sources.