EU executive unveils blueprint for climate fight

[Lone_Star_Dem]

Source: Reuters

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union's executive will adopt ambitious plans on Wednesday to make the 27-nation bloc a leader in the fight against climate change, but tradeoffs will include higher energy bills.

The European Commission will detail proposals to cut planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions by one-fifth and split among EU states a target to produce one-fifth of all power from renewable sources like the wind and sun by 2020.

The Commission wants to spur talks among industrialized countries for a global climate deal by 2009 to help arrest global warming which risks raising sea levels and causing more floods and droughts.

Brussels has had to fine-tune its plans to placate anxious industry leaders, who fear higher energy costs will tilt competitiveness further in favor of China and India, which have no emissions limits, at a time of record oil prices.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSL2281556020080122?sp=true

[MasonJar]

1. Thank God the EU has some conscience and sense. In this country the only

thing which counts is the almighty dollar and the corps' bottom line. We have become a selfish, backward nation of self-serving, sociopathic "morans." We have to fight by not buying; the consumerism of the USA fuels the maniacal idiocy of our soon-to-be-third world nation.

[Ghost Dog]

3. It is indeed disappointing to see so little interest/comment

in this from DUers.

But I suppose the issue of 'who has the biggest balls and knows how to fight dirty, Hilary or Obama' is necessarily to the fore at this moment in time.

[Ghost Dog]

2. k&r

[Ghost Dog]

4. The BBC reports thusly:

EU reveals energy plan of action

Mr Barroso says climate change is the ultimate political challenge

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has announced "historic" plans to make Europe "the first economy for the low-carbon age".

He said Europeans wanted "a vision and a plan of action" against climate change and the measures would cost 3 euros (£2.10) a week for every citizen.

The aim would be a 20% cut in the EU's greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, which could rise to 30% with a global deal.

He told the European Parliament there was a cost, "but it was manageable".

'Not a bad deal'

Mr Barroso put the figure at 60bn euros a year until 2020: "a real commitment, but not a bad deal." It would mean a rise in electricity prices of 10-15% but there would be less reliance on energy imports.

He said work had to start to cut global emissions in half by 2050 and he said Europe could lead the way.

/... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7203514.stm