EU energy proposals lack “courage and conviction” says Rochdale MEP

Chris Davies MEP

European Commission proposals on energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions have been damned by a Rochdale Euro-MP. 

The Commission published its "Climate Roadmap to 2050" on Tuesday (8 March 2011) which details how to slash greenhouse gas emissions across the EU by the middle of the century. 

Lib Dem environment spokesman Chris Davies MEP has blasted the new proposals for allowing countries like China to steal a march in developing future green technology.
Meeting the EU's goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050 will require an extra 270 billion euros annually but figures in the roadmap show that the costs to the taxpayer could be less if Governments agreed to cut emissions faster. 

Mr Davies is calling on the EU to improve its 2020 target from a 20 per cent cut in greenhouse gas emissions to a 30 per cent reduction.

Mr Davies said: "The Commission has today demonstrated all the courage and conviction of a rabbit caught in headlights and about to be run over.

“Short term concerns have been put before the needs of our long term future.

“European development has been condemned to stay in the slow lane, certain to be overtaken by the fast lane Asian economies.

“With China investing half its GDP in low carbon technologies and developments, by refusing to insist that we raise our ambitions and make firm commitments to improve energy efficiency the Commission is condemning the European Union to failure.

"By opting for complacency and delay we could hardly have been let down more if the Commissioners were acting on behalf of the Chinese Government .

"Fuel prices are rising and set to stay high so energy efficiency targets should be made legally binding now.”