Climate change

Challenges and targets

The Kyoto Protocol, whilst being a major political achievement, has not been enough to stabilise climate change. Stronger political leadership is required to ensure a fair, ambitious and legally binding global agreement for the post 2012 period.

The EEB strongly believes that EU climate policy for the next 40 years should contribute to the global objective of reducing the rise in global temperatures to well below 2°C.

In response to the Commission Communication "A Roadmap for moving to a competitive low carbon economy in 2050", the EU should look critically at its own mitigation efforts. In order to establish the correct trajectory to reach emission reductions of at least 80% domestic reductions by 2050, focus should be set upon the short and medium-term to updating its domestic emission reduction targets and implementing effective policies supporting renewable energy and energy efficient technologies.

To have maximum impact, the Roadmap should target the full potential of all sectors, and especially those with high levels of inertia and long-lived capital stocks, such as the building and transport sectors.

If Europe does not take steps to invest in its own green technology base, to secure a greener economy, it risks losing out to others. By investing in efforts to meet a more ambitious target, the EU will also invest in its own sustainable future, creating new local and long-term jobs, driving innovation and technological change. Emission reductions must be based on high renewables, high energy efficiency, low consumption and minimal reliance on offsets. Certain correction measures may be needed to guarantee that our existing legislation and policy instruments are harmonised and consistent with the short-term and medium-term climate objectives.

The EU’s own commitment to keeping global average temperature increase to below 2°C means that the 20% target requires upgrading. Committing to a 30% target without loopholes, based on domestic action, would mean the EU moves closer to what could be considered a fair share of necessary global efforts to stay below the 2°C threshold - which already far exceeds the limit of 1.5°C set by many, including Small Island States and Least Developed Countries, and which is regarded by many others as a ‘safe’ threshold. Furthermore, in light of the EU’s current and historical responsibility, and in view of the increasing evidence that even a 2°C threshold implies dangerous climate change, the EU should move further on its domestic reductions and establish a 40% reduction target. 

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