Brussels, 23/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - In order to ensure that the Durban climate conference (COP 17, 28 November-9 December) is a success, the EU would be wrong to focus on the United States and should instead work to ally itself with China, the leader of the G77, unconditionally reassuring the developing countries that the Kyoto Protocol will continue, reiterate the Greens/EFA at the Parliament. The members of this group who are part of the delegation of MEPs who will travel to Durban, and who are convinced that the EU's immediate commitment to a second commitment period of the Protocol would give a vital and major shot in the arm to international negotiations, explained to the press on 23 November that this element is essential for the chances of agreeing on a precise timetable to lead to a binding global agreement by 2015, with as many countries on board as possible.
“The debate on climate change is not as hot a topic as in previous years. We are trying to ensure that international climate policy gets the attention it deserves. It is the job of the Europeans to defend Kyoto to ensure that the international process does not stop, and to work towards making sure that everybody understands that in a situation of global economic crisis, climate protection cannot be put to one side, because this drives economic reactivation. The 'new Green deal' is the right response to economic and climate problems. Are the Europeans ready to defend this idea in Durban?”, asked Rebecca Harms (Germany).
She added that Connie Hedegaard, Climate Action Commissioner, had made “promising attempts” (EUROPE 10500) and expressed her hopes that the “Polish Presidency does not put any spokes in the wheels”. The hour of truth will be 9 December because that is when the Durban conference and the European Council will be drawing their conclusions on “two closely linked problems”: the climate crisis and the euro crisis, stressed Bas Eickhout (Netherlands). Stating that the European price for a tonne of coal, which is less than €9, “is not sending out any signals and does not favour green technologies”, he went on to point out that “China is leading the field on wind energy and solar panels”. Europe must therefore, he argued, “raise its ambitions to invest in green technologies”. Satu Hassi (Finland) stressed the importance of the financing plank in favour of the developing countries and making progress in Durban on transparency, the mobilisation of funds for this decade. He added: “it will take new money, not recycled development aid”. Sandrine Bélier (France) pleaded in favour of a 30% reduction in EU emissions by 2020 and for strong commitments in Durban to prevent next year's Sustainable Development Summit, Rio +20, from becoming a “catch-up session”. (AN/transl.fl)