Brussels, 26/09/2013 (Agence Europe) - Climate on all fronts. On the eve of publication of the draft policy recommendations of the inter-governmental expert group on climate change (IPCC), expected in Stockholm on Friday (see EUROPE 10926), the attention of the European Parliament was centred on energy-climate policy until 2030 and on the planned new coal-fired power stations in Opole, Poland.
At the very outset of the Parliament's first exploratory debate on the future integrated framework for climate and energy policies until 2030, MEP Jo Leinen (S&D, Germany) urged that three binding targets be set for that date - one on reducing CO2 emissions, another on increasing the percentage share of renewable energy, and a third on energy efficiency. This is the only way, he argues, for the EU to achieve its goal of being a low carbon economy by 2050. “The experience with the climate package for 2020 has shown that member states do not take voluntary targets seriously”, he stated. The Parliamentary environment and industry committees were meeting jointly to exchange views on the Green Paper presented in March by the Commission, which is expected to bring forward concrete proposals before the end of the year.
Opole plans in breach of law. The previous day, MEPs of all groups warned Poland, which is to chair the next international climate conference (COP 19, 11-22 November, see EUROPE 10924) that the plan to build two new coal-fired power stations, each with a capacity of 900MW, in Opole was being closely monitored by the European Parliament and the Commission, “as it is in breach of the directive on carbon capture and storage (CCS directive)”. This directive requires the investment to be subject to an assessment. The MEPs highlight the European Commission's response to questions put in July, confirming the breach of EU law. (AN/transl.fl)