European leaders clash over pledges on global warming: Credibility at risk as leaders gather …

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/dec/10/road-to-copenhagen-climatechange2

European leaders clash over pledges on global warming

Credibility at risk as leaders gather to discuss ambitious greenhouse gas targets

Ian Traynor in Brussels
The Guardian, Thursday December 11 2008

European leaders gather in Brussels today for a crunch summit, acutely divided over how to deliver on pledges to combat global warming almost two years after declaring they would show the rest of the world how to tackle climate change.

The EU is split between the poorer east and the wealthy west. Germany says that most of their industries need not pay to pollute, Italy says it cannot afford the ambitious scheme, and Britain says that the package on the table could result in huge windfall profits for companies.

"There is a very big chasm between the various parties," said a senior European diplomat.

Prime ministers and presidents appear to be getting cold feet over key decisions that need to be taken by the weekend to enact laws that will make the climate change package binding for 27 countries.

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