Green Options » eu energy policy

European Union to Stick to Tough Climate Targets

Timothy B. Hurst — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:58:26 +0000

Leaders vow to maintain targets amid economic and political pressure from some member states to do otherwise.

On Thursday, European heads of state meeting in Brussels decided to stick to previously set climate action targets despite pressure from several member states to loosen the December target, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2020.

Last week, a Polish-led group of eight poorer EU member states threatened to block any resolution that kept the existing targets in place, siting the current economic downturn and market turmoil as the primary obstacle.

>>More on European energy and environmental policy at RG&B

European Union Bans Incandescent Light Bulbs

Timothy B. Hurst — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 00:52:34 +0000

EU energy ministers meeting last week in Luxembourg have given final approval to an EU-wide ban on incandescent light bulbs that would begin in 2010. The switch to energy-saving bulbs, first ordered at last year’s Brussels summit as part of an aggressive energy policy to fight climate change, was approved at the negotiations leading up to a meeting of European heads of state, being held next week.

>>More on European energy policy at RG&B

Will EU Member States Use Economic Crisis to Weasel out of Climate Targets?

Timothy B. Hurst — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 21:48:56 +0000

Leaders of some EU countries may use the global financial crisis as an excuse to back out of climate change commitments, according to sources close to the ongoing energy negotiations The Guardian reports that the EU council, which meets next week, will propose dropping the previous commitment to an automatic increase in emissions cuts if the world gets a major climate change agreement next year in Copenhagen - which is a big “if.”

The current EU target of a 20% reduction in emissions by 2020 is set to automatically increase to 30% if a global deal is signed. But apparently, EU is seeking a completely new legislative process if the EU target is to go over 20%.