Brussels, 04/06/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 4 June at the opening of the G-7 summit, the NGO Friends of the Earth (FoE), warned that the Ukrainian crisis must not be used as a pretext by G7 countries for the use of more fossil fuels.
The NGO said that, instead of increasing the trade and use of shale gas and opening Europe's doors to tar sands (the most polluting kinds of fuels), G7 countries should, on the contrary, invest in real sustainable solutions for ensuring the EU's energy security.
Colin Roche, an FoE expert said that “under the guise of energy security, G7 leaders are pushing a corporate-driven agenda of dirty energy. This will lock in fossil fuel use for decades. The only path to energy security is to break the stranglehold of fossil fuel imports, prevent further shale gas development and develop our own clean, community-owned renewable energy resources”.
FoE considers that the draft framework for climate and energy policies up to 2030 currently being discussed in the EU is “dangerously inadequate”. It therefore calls on the EU to improve its energy security by introducing three binding targets for member states: reducing greenhouse gas producing emissions by at least 60% by 2030; energy savings of 50% and a 45% share of renewable energies in total energy consumption.
FoE also underlines that the EU should provide appropriate funding to help developing countries tackle climate change. (AN)