Brussels, 23/11/2012 (Agence Europe) - The European Union and all parties at the international climate talks should raise their level of ambition as the pledges of action currently on the table are not up to the measures required by the scientific community in order to comply with the objective of limiting the average rise in temperatures to 2° Celsius compared to the pre-industrial era, warns the European Parliament. The resolution was adopted on Thursday 22 November in Strasbourg by a large majority (485 to 109 and 45 abstentions) just a few days prior to the opening of the UN conference in Doha (COP18, 26 November-7 December).
The EU is invited to aim at a 30% reduction in its emissions by 2020 (compared to the 1990 level). This will not only be essential in order to set an example but is in the EU's own interest “creating sustainable growth, additional jobs and decreasing the dependency on energy imports”, a low majority of MEPs said (331 votes to 306 and 9 abstentions). It is on the strength of that message that Matthias Groote (S&D, Germany), who chairs the environment committee at the Parliament, will go to Doha where he will be heading an official delegation of 15 MEPs from 3 to 7 December.
The Parliament trusts that the key industrialised countries will agree on renewal of the Kyoto Protocol (the first period of which expires at the end of the year) to help bridge the gap to a new, legally binding, global treaty, which should be concluded by 2015 and in force by 2020, as decided by UN members in Durban (COP 17 last December). MEPs firmly support a second period of commitment as of 1 January 2013. They fear, however, that the carry-over of “assigned amount units” (AAUs), the so-called “hot air” carbon credits held by a number of European and other countries, could undermine climate mitigation effects. Also, they hope the EU will be able to forge a common position on this issue left outstanding by the Council in the EU negotiating mandate, and “lead by example”.
MEPs reiterate their unwavering support for the inclusion of aviation in the EU's emissions trading system, and point out that the question of emissions from the international maritime sector must also be urgently addressed. They also trust that the financial commitments required to effectively fight against short and long term global warming will be respected. (AN/transl.jl)