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ENVIRONMENT: EU’s Post-Kyoto Proposals ‘Cheap’, Say Green Groups

Stefania Bianchi

BRUSSELS, Feb 10 2005 (IPS) - Environmental groups are criticising European Commission proposals for the bloc’s policy on climate change post-2012, saying they fail to establish legally binding targets for curbing greenhouse gas emissions.

European Union (EU) Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas unveiled new proposals Wednesday to develop the 25-member bloc’s future negotiating position after the first commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol ends in 2012.

The Commission’s document, to be discussed by EU environment ministers at their mid-term Lisbon summit in March, calls for a 15 percent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, but says that near- to medium-term targets are ”premature” at the moment.

The report says there should be broader international participation in reducing emissions and calls for further analysis of the impacts of the air and marine transport industries on climate change.

As well as building on the Kyoto Protocol – the 1997 pact that gives teeth to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change – the Commission says it will seek bilateral agreements with countries like the United States, which has rejected the treaty, and with developing countries.

Dimas stressed the need to focus research on storing and capturing carbon dioxide, the main culprit behind global warming. The Greek lawyer also said greater effort is needed in pursuing renewable energy and energy efficiency.

”With an average global temperature increase of 0.6 degrees centigrade, we can already see more floods, hurricanes, and other natural disasters. If we add two degrees more, we will see more and bigger problems. Agriculture, forestry, fisheries, biodiversity and health will suffer,” he said.

The Commission’s plans come just days before the international climate change treaty, the Kyoto Protocol, enters into force on Feb. 16.

The 1997 Kyoto accord legally committed 39 industrialised nations and territories to trim their output of six greenhouse gases – especially carbon dioxide – by 2012 compared with 1990 levels. The EU is supposed to come up with ideas for a post-Kyoto strategy this year.

The United States initially signed the protocol, but President George W. Bush abandoned the accord in March 2001 on the grounds that it would be too costly for U.S. industry.

The EU intends to bring up the climate change issue at summit talks with Bush in Brussels Feb. 21.

The EU said Wednesday it will lead by example in the fight against climate change ahead of new international negotiations to combat global warming.

”Fighting climate change is not a matter of choice, but a matter of necessity. We will continue to lead by example, but we will also continue to press hard for all of our international partners to come on board,” Dimas said.

However environmental groups have been quick to criticise the fact that EU has not mentioned legally binding targets for emission reductions in its new strategy.

”The January sales are over, but the commission is still cheapening its leadership of the EU battle against climate change,” said Mahi Sideridou, European climate change expert with the international environment watchdog Greenpeace.

Greenpeace is calling on the bloc to design a post-2012 climate strategy that includes the adoption of legally binding targets for the EU25 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 30 percent by 2020, based on 1990 emission levels.

”The EU must send a clear signal that it will uphold its two degree commitment to the world and disregard the Bush administration ostrich, stuck with its head in the sand and refusing to address climate change,” said Sideridou.

Commissioner Dimas says the global battle against climate change will cost roughly 0.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), but stresses that if nothing is done to curb the introduction of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, the economic and environmental consequences will cost between 1.5 percent and 2 percent GDP.

But environmental groups say that the assumed GDP loss of 0.5-1.5 percent in 20 years is a ”very low price” for addressing one of the greatest threats to humanity.

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF, also known as World Wildlife Fund) points out that the Commission’s analysis does not consider economic benefits such as reduced healthcare costs due to decreased air pollution.

The group adds that the Commission proposals ignore the costs of failing to tackle climate change, such as increased flooding and increased frequency of extreme weather events.

”Combating climate change will barely impact economic growth, especially as EU GDP is expected to grow by 50 percent by 2025,” said Stephan Singer, head of the WWF European climate and energy policy unit.

”This is a very low price for addressing one of the biggest threats to mankind. In the end benefits will be much higher than costs. New jobs, new technologies and new markets opened by clean energies will bring new economic benefits,” he added.