EU Urged to Take Leadership Role on Climate Change

July 23, 2008 // Published as a news service by IHS

The opinions adopted were on the future EU Emissions Trading Scheme, the effort-sharing decision and carbon capture and storage (CCS).

In all three opinions, the EESC recognized and endorsed the EU's leading role in international negotiations on environmental and climate protection.

The EESC stated it is essential to reach an ambitious international agreement in 2009 if global temperatures are to be stabilized at a maximum of 2 °C above pre-industrial levels.

It also said the EU needs to lead by example through its own commitments, seeking to spur on other countries to take comparable measures.

In addition, the EESC highlighted the importance of educational campaigns to raise public awareness on the issue of climate change.

Emissions Trading Scheme
In its opinion on the revised Emissions Trading Scheme post-2012, the rapporteur welcomed the move towards more auctioning of allowances, since this is in line with the "polluter-pays principle" and gives incentives to eco-innovation.

The EESC called for mandating at least 50% of revenues from allowance auctioning to support measures for climate change mitigation and adaptation.

The EESC stressed the importance of introducing measures to protect specific energy-intensive sectors vulnerable to international competition, pointing out that the EU's ETS must not have a negative impact on the competitiveness of EU industry.

Moreover, the opinion stated that, in order to keep the system lean, the EC should consider raising the exclusion limit for small installations from 10,000 to 25,000 tons per year.

Effort sharing
In its opinion on effort sharing, the EESC endorsed the principle of effort sharing of CO2 emissions reduction between EU member states.

However, it believes the public must be better informed about the principles on which the effort-sharing target for each member state has been based. The rapporteur called for the setting up of a compliance regime in case member states do not respect the emission levels set.

Carbon capture and storage
The EESC acknowledged the potential key contribution of CCS in combating climate change and the rapporteur called for its rapid development and use.

To enable quick implementation of pilot projects, a manageable regulatory framework as well as financial incentives will be needed so that relevant national authorities and potential investors may operate within clear frameworks.

Next steps
In its next plenary session on Sep. 17-18, the EESC will finalize its work on the climate change and energy package by adopting opinions on the proposed renewable energy directive and the EC's communications on the national energy efficiency plans and sustainable energy production from fossil fuels.

Additionally, the EESC will adopt an opinion on its own initiative on international negotiations on climate change.

Source: European Commission.