Liz Lynne backs EU call for 30% carbon cuts at Copenhagen (East Staffordshire Liberal Democrats)

East Staffordshire Liberal Democrats <info@libdems.org.uk>

Liz Lynne backs EU call for 30% carbon cuts at Copenhagen

November 25, 2009 2:30 PM
Originally published by Liz Lynne

The European Parliament backed a LibDem co sponsored resolution for tough action on carbon emissions. The EU is set to call for 30% cuts in CO2 by 2020 at the Copenhagen summit.

LibDem MEP Liz Lynne has welcomed a vote in the European Parliament this morning urging EU countries to hold out for deep cuts in CO2 emissions at the Copenhagen climate talks.

The West Midlands MEP voted in favour of a wide ranging resolution co-sponsored by Liberal Democrat MEPs for tough action against climate change, including progressive cuts in carbon emissions at five year intervals leading to a minimum 80% reduction by 2050.

Liz Lynne also welcomed indications during the debate that EU nations will make a joint offer to make 30% cuts in emissions by 2020 in an effort to 'break the logjam' at the Copenhagen summit. World leaders are holding the talks next month to try and agree a successor to the Kyoto Protocol with a long term plan to stop climate change.

Speaking after the motion was carried by a big majority at the Parliament in Strasbourg today, Liz Lynne said: "I am glad the Parliament has spoken out clearly to back deep cuts in carbon emissions to stop climate change. This is one of the biggest threats to our way of life and the only way we can stop it is to work together internationally - climate change knows no borders.

"I also welcome suggestions in the debate that the EU nations will go to Copenhagen with a firm offer of 30% cuts in carbon emissions to try and kickstart negotiations.

"I really hope that Barack Obama can persuade the US Congress that America needs to be part of the new agreement after Kyoto, and needs to sign up to carbon cuts too. If the EU nations agree on really deep cuts it will strengthen his hand."

"We need to stop global temperatures rising by more than the critical 2 centigrade. We won't do it with warm words and hot air. We need Copenhagen to set out a long term political agreement which includes all the big countries of the world with specific targets and timescales.

"Pledges need to be followed by action. The EU has already pledged 20% cuts by 2020, while the USA has not committed to any targets, but it is worth noting that under Obama it has actually committed to spending more money on clean energy than the EU has so far."

INVEST IN GREEN POWER JOBS

The West Midlands MEP added: "Britain lags way behind many EU nations on green power - it is tragic that our only factory producing wind turbines is closing down.

"Why can't our government help the engineering factories across the West Midlands retool for the new green technology, and compete in this future market?

"Literally millions of jobs across the continent will go to those countries who invest in this field now. In the recession, the private sector does not have the money to do it, it needs government action."

ENDS