Essen, 01/06/2007 (Agence Europe) - At the old Zollverein coalmine near Essen, a symbol of the first industrial revolution in Europe, German federal environment, natural protection and nuclear safety minister, Sigmar Gabriel, called on EU environment ministers to discuss the new revolution this weekend (Friday and Saturday), the revolution of innovative ecological industry guaranteeing sustainable development and respect for the climate. The meeting will discuss the full potential of 'ecotech' in the EU, under the title 'Environment, Innovation, Employment' (see EUROPE 9436).
The day before, the United States, defenders of investment in innovative technology to combat climate change, were unveiling the new plan by George Bush calling on the world's greatest polluters, including India and China, to seek overall agreement with the United States on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and find ways of meeting the climate change challenge without committing to any binding targets or timelines.
At the press conference at the launch of the Environmental Council in Essen, the German minister (whose country currently chairs both the EU and the G8) was unable to dodge questions on George Bush's unexpected news. In response to a reporter's question about whether he thought the US President's climate plan published a few days ahead of the G8 Summit in Heiligendamm on 6-8 June really was a radical change of tack or whether he saw it as a smokescreen, Sigmar Gabriel fudged the question, saying the new initiative did not change the EU's position in any way.
I believe the US President's words potentially cover both hypotheses - either a change in the United States' position or a smokescreen. The most important thing is action. The US President cannot get round the question of climate change, which has become a priority he will have to tackle more seriously but there is a strong opportunity that the EU and the G8 will not content themselves with launching a process when at the end of the day, agreement is reached on non-binding targets. The United States has to be associated with an international treaty that includes binding targets to allow verification of respect of the targets and ensuring a 50% cut in global emissions by 2050, said the acting President of the Environment Council. If the United States' position helps prepare such a treaty, it is a good proposition. But if the US proposition is only used to survive the Heiligendamm Summit and undermine any international agreement, it is a Trojan horse that has to be avoided, added Sigmar Gabriel.
Gabriel's fudging did not cast any doubts on the German Presidency's desire to bring things out into the open to thrash out exactly what George Bush and his call for global action really means and whether the Bush Climate Plan is compatible with the objectives pursued by the EU.
In other words, the upcoming G8 Summit will have to closely examine the US position to see whether it includes clear 50% reduction targets for 2050; whether it contains verification mechanisms; and whether it can form part of the international climate change tackling process under the aegis of the United Nations, explained Sigmar Gabriel. He said that the politicians in Heiligendamm would have to send a very clear signal because that was the only way to get China and India to budge.
The EU position will not change in the slightest, he said, adding that the EU was very happy that things were starting to change in the United States under domestic pressure. He said that the US Congress' interest in the EU carbon trading system ahead of a vote on 4 July 2007 on introducing such a system in the United States was evidence of this.
Sigmar Gabriel said that at the G8, the German Presidency would be defending a 50% cut in global emissions by 2050 (meaning a 60-80% cut for industrialised countries and mid-way target of 30% by 2020) so that United Nations negotiations could start in Bali in December 2007.
For this reason, he said, it would be important in Heiligendamm to discuss the American proposals and integrate them in the process under the aegis of the United Nations. (an)