Brussels, 28/10/2011 (Agence Europe) - Aiming at the very highest. That is the maxim for the Parliament's environment committee, which calls on the EU to show proof of leadership at the UN climate conference in Durban (COP 17, 28 November-9 December), to openly and unequivocally support the Kyoto Protocol after 2012 and to aim, in its own interest, at more than 20% reduction in emissions by 2020. These are the main lines of the report adopted by a large majority (53 for, 4 against and 3 abstentions) in Strasbourg on 26 October, which will steer the vote of the plenary session of November (15-17 November), several days before the COP 17 kicks off.
After the vote, Jo Leinen (S&D, Germany), who chairs the parliamentary committee thus summarised the content of the resolution and the stakes involved saying continuation of the Kyoto Protocol will determine whether the Durban summit is a success or failure. The EU must show proof of the necessary leadership to prevent climate talks from being bogged down, he added.
MEPs consider that the EU should pursue the Kyoto Protocol (for which the first period of commitment expires at the end of 2012) with “public and unequivocal” support as it is the only binding international instrument. It is also necessary to prevent there being a legal void.
If MEPs continue to call for the EU's unilateral target (20%) to be raised, it is because they are convinced that the EU's economy has everything to gain in terms of green growth job generation and security. They express the strongest concern with regard to the gap that exists between reduction commitments currently on the table and the target recommended by the scientific community (between 25-40%) for respecting the 2° Celsius objective.
On the subject of funds for combating climate change, the environment committee hopes the EU will increase its contribution to $30 billion guaranteed annually out of the $100 billion required each year as of 2020 to support the efforts of developing countries.
The environment committee underlines the importance of including maritime transport and international air transport in the global fight against climate change, and urges the EU to defend its legislation tooth and nail, as this includes civil aviation in ETS as of January 2012. (AN/transl.jl)