Brussels, 03/06/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 3 June, Oxfam International warned that, if the European Union does not decide to set ambitious targets to tackle climate change, as well as sensible objectives for ensuring its energy security, the poor in Europe would face the stark choice of eating or keeping warm. Its new report “Fit for a Food and Energy Secure World?” warns of a crisis in energy prices, just when the effects of climate change on food imports could provoke a massive hike in food prices. The report was deliberately published just before the G7 summit, which will debate Europe's energy security, as the future integrated Climate/Energy framework to 2030 is being discussed with a view to agreement this year.
Oxfam is concerned by Europe's massive dependence on fossil fuels and the contribution of these fuels to climate change which has already created increasing hunger among the world's poor. The crisis in Ukraine and the resulting tension with Russia should provide Europe with a wake-up call (Europe imports half of its energy, mainly fossil fuels) to revise its energy mix, argues Oxfam. Russia is Europe's main supplier of oil and gas, which cost each European citizen €250 in 2013. Last year, Europe spends €400 billion on importing fossil fuels, over €1 billion a day.
Oxfam International's Executive Director Winnie Byanyima commented: “If Europe is to avoid rising fuel and food prices and play the role it should as a global leader in tackling climate change, it is crucial that we see a shift away from fossil fuels and ambitious emissions reduction targets. G7 leaders in Brussels can add weight to common sense, by developing an energy security plan that places energy saving, clean, affordable and renewable energy first”.
Oxfam says Europe is at an energy crossroads with two clear options. It can continue to rely on imported fossil fuels and opt for dirty and expensive “home-grown” energy sources like coal and fracking. This would miss a golden opportunity to tackle climate change, and commit Europeans to higher fuel and food prices as a result - hitting the poorest the hardest. Alternatively, it could choose a more sustainable pathway, cutting energy dependency, reducing prices and helping prevent runaway climate change, which is already affecting food production.
Europe is the world's largest fuel and food importer. Oxfam's report says, even if governments meet their 2020 climate and energy commitments, Europe's total imports bill for gas and oil is expected to spiral to €500 billion by 2030 because of rising prices. At the same time, if climate change continues unchecked, the EU's food import bill, currently at €100 billion, could also surge by several billion by 2030. Up to 72% of the EU's food imports (including 70% of the EU's animal feed for meat and dairy farming) come from developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to climate change.
Oxfam says opting for a “climate compatible” energy policy, which will help control prices and climate proof food supply is crucial. This involves shifting from both imported and domestic fossil fuels, increasing energy efficiency and improving renewable energy capacity and supply. Improving energy efficiency by 40% by 2030 could save €239 billion a year by 2030 - an average saving of more than €300 a year for every household. Oxfam is calling for the EU to agree to an energy and climate package for 2030 that commits to energy savings of 40%, boosting sustainable renewable energy use to 45%of the energy mix and reducing emissions by at least 55% (compared to 1990 levels). (AN)