Brussels, 20/10/2009 (Agence Europe) - The world's poorest countries are the first to suffer from climate change without their having any responsibility for it. This sentiment was on everyone's lips in the European Parliament chamber in Strasbourg on Tuesday 20 October, during an exchange of views on climate change and developing countries, ahead of the world climate conference in Copenhagen (COP 15, 7-18 December).
In the three-hour debate, MEPs called on the EU to be generous towards developing countries to compensate - in full, by means of technology transfer and cooperation in tackling deforestation - this flagrant injustice. And this, all the more so with these vulnerable countries already suffering from the economic and financial crisis for which they have no blame either. Behind this pressing, unanimous call, however, there was division between the MEPs of the Left (S&D, Greens/EFA, GUE) and ALDE who put forward a sum, in addition to Official Development Aid (ODA), and those of the Centre-right (EPP) who declined to put a figure on the aid required, preferring to stress the need for a fair sharing of the financial burden among all countries.
“48 days from Copenhagen, … we will make the best use of the time that is left to us to bring pressure to bear on the other parties,” said President in office of the Environment Council Andreas Carlgren. “Development issues must be one of the main points in Copenhagen. The Council is aware of the scale of the funding required,” he stated, quoting the Commission's estimate of €100 billion per year until 2020 to meet the needs of developing countries. “And the EU is also ready to provide rapid funding until 2012.”
European Development and Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Karel De Gucht thanked Parliament for its support. “We won't get an ambitious agreement in Copenhagen if we fail to take due account of the needs of developing countries - especially the poorest and most vulnerable for which the EU is already the largest donor,” he noted. He called for a “political alliance with developing countries, including the ACP countries”. Believing that “an agreement on funding will be crucial for an overall agreement,” he said that “the EU is ready to bear its share of the burden in line with set criteria. We hope our proposals will be taken up in the Copenhagen mandate,” he said. “The EU cannot act alone, however: the other developed countries have to make a similar effort”. Developing countries have to integrate their adaptation policies with their development policies that are working towards a low-carbon economy, and ensure that their mitigation policies chime with their development policies, he stressed. De Gucht also called for mechanisms to be set up to prevent tropical deforestation, and for fairer investment for all adaptation measures. “The Commission does not support the creation of a new fund. It wants existing funds to be better channelled and targeted,” he said. On behalf of the EPP Group, German MEP Karl-Heinz Florenz said, for the attention of the commissioner: “Take the Indians and the Americans with you and half the work is done!” He added, “Some say that €15 billion is needed annually from 2020, other €30 billion. Let us establish solid criteria, then the EU will be able to make a sizeable contribution, for example, by selling more energy efficient machines to the Chinese”. On behalf of the S&D Group, Belgian MEP Véronique de Keyser pointed out that of more than 300,000 deaths attributable to climate change every year, over 90% were in developing countries. She called, therefore, for a “new, more ambitious Kyoto”, an increase in ODA so that it amounts to 0.7% of GNI by 2015, legal protection for environmental refugees and decent planning for environmental migratory flows. For the ALDE Group, French MEP Corinne Lepage spoke of the EU's dual liability - in relation to the expectations of its own people and towards the countries of the South - to urge “clear financial commitment”: public development aid of 0.7% of GNI, additional aid of €35 billion per year by 2020 to support adaptation and mitigation efforts in developing countries, and between €5 and €7 million in emergency aid between 2010 and 2012. She called, too, for a “Tobin-style green tax” and for a target of “no gross deforestation by 2020” (replacing the virgin forest with poplars was not a solution, she stated). “The future of the world will be decided at Copenhagen, but before that, it is the credibility of the EU that is at stake in Brussels, in the October European Council,” warned French MEP Eva Joly on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group. Believing that the “current EU position is not worthy of a leader of environmental diplomacy,” she considered that “the EU cannot promise less than €35 billion per year in public funding, in addition to ODA”.
Irish MEP Bairbre de Brun (GUE/NGL) called for “an expression of genuine and practical solidarity”.
A number of elected members challenge the need for action to combat climate change. This is “euro-madness”, exclaimed Oreste Rossi (Lega Nord, Italy), saying one should not provide aid for countries such as China, India or Brazil - which are “dangerous and disloyal” competitors of Europe. Nick Griffin (NA, UK) felt the debate only accentuates the “gulf” between the political elite and “the little people”, who will “have to pay the bill”. Along the same lines, his compatriot, Godfrey Bloom (EFD) questioned the reality of climate change and was ironical about the “ski season that has just opened” in some European countries. This opinion was not shared by most of the gathering, or by a majority of citizens, British Labour member Linda McAvan retorted, citing poll results showing that only 10% of respondents consider this a serious problem. Marielle de Sarnez (ALDE, France) said “paying the debt that has long accumulated with Africa is bound to be painful for us”, but it is a duty. Her compatriot, Francçoise Grossetête agreed with this but calls for a distinction to be made between the “real” developing countries and those, like China, India and Brazil, that are among the largest carbon emission producers. Developing countries “must have the means to follow us”, stressed Rachida Dati (EPP, France). However, if Copenhagen were to fail, she sees only one short term solution - the imposition of a carbon tax at Union borders. Charles Goerens (ALDE, Luxembourg) is among those who insist that financial means must be additional. There is a major role to be played by innovation and technology also, with Pat Gallagher (ALDE, Ireland) and Corien Wortmann-Kohl (EPP, NL) calling for green investment and green jobs. Some MEPs, especially Jo Leinen (Social Democrats, Germany) and Matthias Groote (Social Democrats, Germany) called for air traffic, which contributes to climate change in an ever-increasing way, to be involved in every measure adopted. (A.N./L.G./transl.rt/jl)