Brussels, 31/01/2012 (Agence Europe) - It is no understatement to say that environmental and health NGOs are overjoyed at the multiple benefits anticipated by the European Commission if the EU pushes its climate change target beyond the 20% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2020.
CAN (Climate Action Network) has welcomed the working paper published on 30 January (see EUROPE 10542) showing, as it does, that “moving beyond 20% emission reductions by the year 2020 is feasible, beneficial and much cheaper than previously thought”, as a 30% reduction target would mean that, between 2016 and 2020, member states would save €31.3 billion per year on fossil fuels, calculated on a very conservative oil price of $88 per barrel in 2020.
“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. The Commission's findings remove any doubt about the benefits of stronger European-wide climate action. 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”, said CAN Europe's Climate Policy Officer Julia Michalak. CAN Europe, therefore, 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.
HEAL (Health and Environment Alliance) says that the predicted benefits in terms of health savings (between €3.4 and €7.9 billion per year due to reduced mortality) are “an opportunity not to be missed”.
HEAL believes that such savings should be used to help engage health ministers to see higher climate targets as an investment for public health, and should give European governments the economic case they need to commit to a 30% emissions reductions targets . “Governments should seize this good news on health benefits to raise the EU's climate ambition under the Danish Presidency. The health economic benefits for both the EU and member states are significant, and yet we know they are just the tip of the iceberg”, said Genon Jenson, HEAL Executive Director. The NGO considers that the Commission's analysis underestimates the benefits as it does not include morbidity, or ill health, and do not include the full range of health benefits from climate mitigation measures in the transport and agricultural sector. Neither does it include benefits such as fewer working days lost because of illness, less medication or fewer hospital admissions. (AN/transl.rt/jl)