EU climate energy deal
The EU, following a summit in Brussels, has agreed to reduce its carbon emission by at least 40 percent in comparison with 1990 levels, provide at least 27 percent of EU energy from renewable sources by 2030 and cut energy consumption by at least 27 percent.
We welcome the EU'sinitiative to cut carbon dioxide emissions and boost renewable energy ahead of next year's crucial climate change talks in Paris. It is the first major global carbon emitter to set such a guideline. However, we believe that the targets fall short of what it needs to do to pull its weight in the fight against climate change. Further, the targets may fail to boost efforts to increase energy efficiency, stifling an otherwise booming renewables industry.
The EU is a major emitter of carbon, containing nine of the world's top 25 emitters in 2012. It is concerning that the 40 percent reduction in carbon emission, though binding for the EU as a whole, is not binding on a national level. We are further alarmed that the pact to increase energy efficiency is not legally binding at all.
Though the toughest target yet, the agreement sets a low benchmark ahead of the 2015 deadline for a global climate deal, giving non-compliant high-emitting countries the pretext to set their targets even lower.
Inadequate action from developed regions would continue to affect the poorest in developing countries. As such, we urge the EU to impose more aggressive and binding national targets for its members and persuade other high-emitters to follow suit.
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