Open Letter to Europe’s Heads of State and Government

“We need your climate leadership again,
yesterday’s is no longer enough”

One year ago, you showed considerable leadership in the global fight against climate change, by agreeing to a 20% greenhouse gas emissions reduction target, and a conditional 30% target if other developed countries made a comparable effort. Europe was then alone and ahead of other parts of the world.

As a cross-party grouping of 136 parliamentarians from 21 countries, we encourage you today to be ready to put a firm 30% target of domestic emissions reductions on the table in Copenhagen during the climate negotiations. There is ample evidence that this is the right thing to do for the negotiations, and the best strategy for Europe’s economy.

You agreed long-term targets of between 80-95% emission reductions by 2050 for developed countries this past October. If this is to be achieved, 30% domestic reductions by 2020 are essential. The latest scientific recommendations in fact call for a commitment to a 40 % reduction if we are to avoid a global temperature increase exceeding 2°C by century end.

The recession has not only lowered our emissions and thus brought us closer to a 30% goal; it has also brought the price of emission cuts down. Now the 30 % cut has the same price tag as the 20 % reduction target of last year. We must use this opportunity. Above all, we must not think that a higher target puts us at an economic disadvantage. There are huge economic benefits in moving to a low carbon economy. With the likes of Japan, China, Brazil and India recognising the economic advantages and announcing progressive policies and investment in tomorrow’s low-carbon technologies, Europe must not get left behind.

Finally, the fact that the U.S. president will not have a definitive mandate from the Congress should not hold us back. The United States is catching up fast.

Europe’s leadership role in the fight against global warming today means no longer waiting, but rather maintaining positive momentum in the negotiations by confirming what is anyway in Europe’s interest: bold but realistic emissions reductions of 30% versus 1990.

Sirpa PIETIKAINEN MEP, former Finnish Environment Minister, GLOBE EU President (EPP, Finland)

Vittorio PRODI MEP, GLOBE EU Vice-President (S&D, Italy)

Graham WATSON MEP, GLOBE EU Vice-president (ALDE, UK)

Satu HASSI MEP, former Finnish Environment Minister, GLOBE EU Vice-President (Greens/EFA, Finland)

Kriton ARSENIS MEP, Greek Socialist Party (S&D, Greece)

Inés AYALA SENDER MEP, Spanish Socialist Party (S&D, Spain)

Margrete AUKEN MEP, Socialist People's Party (Greens/EFA, Denmark)

Catherine BEARDER MEP, Liberal Democrats (ALDE, United Kingdom)

Ricardo CORTÉS LASTRA MEP, Socialist Spanish Party (S&D, Spain)

Chris DAVIES MEP, Liberal Democrats (ALDE, United Kingdom)

Lena EK MEP, Vice-President of the European Liberal and Democratic Reform Party (ALDE, Sweden)

Jill EVANS MEP, Plaid Cymru (Greens/EFA, United Kingdom)

Gerben-Jan GERBRANDY MEP, D-66 (ALDE, Netherlands)

Ana Maria GOMES MEP, Portuguese Socialist Party (S&D, Portugal)

Fiona HALL MEP, Liberal Democrats (ALDE, United Kingdom)

Edit HERCZOG MEP, Hungarian Socialist Party (S&D, Hungary)

Yannick JADOT MEP, Liste Europe Ecologie, (Greens/EFA, France)

Dan JØRGENSEN MEP, Social Democratic Party (S&D, Denmark)

Corinne LEPAGE MEP, Mouvement Démocrate (ALDE, France)

Caroline LUCAS MEP, Green Party (Greens/EFA, United Kingdom)

Baroness Sarah LUDORD MEP, Liberal Democrats (ALDE, United Kingdom)

Judith MERKIES MEP, Partij van de Arbeid (S&D, Netherlands)

Linda MCAVAN MEP, Labour Party (S&D, United Kingdom)

Edward MCMILLAN-SCOTT MEP, Conservative Party (Non-attached, United Kingdom)
Bill NEWTON DUNN MEP, Liberal Democrats (ALDE, United Kingdom)

Gilles PARGNEAUX MEP, Parti Socialiste, radical et citoyen (S&D, France)

Andrés PERELLÓ RODRÍGUEZ MEP, Spanish Socialist Party(S&D, Spain)

Maurice PONGA MEP, Union pour un Mouvement Populaire (EPP, France)
Alyn SMITH MEP, Scottish Nationalist Party (Greens/EFA, United Kingdom)

Csaba Sándor TABAJDI MEP, Hungarian Socialist Party (S&D, Hungary)

Indrek TARAND MEP, Üksikkandidaat, (Greens/EFA, Estonia)

Britta THOMSEN MEP, Social Democratic Party (S&D, Denmark)
Emilie TURUNEN MEP, Socialist People's Party (Greens/EFA, Denmark)

Viktor USPASKICH MEP, Darbo partija (ALDE, Lithuania)

Tatjana ŽDANOKA MEP, Par cilvēka tiesībām vienotā Latvijā (GREENS/EFA, Latvia)

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Steen GADE MP, Chairman of the Environment Committee of the Danish Parliament, President of GLOBE Europe, Socialist People's Party (Greens/EFA, Denmark)

Michael KAUCH MP, Environmental Spokesman, Vice-President of GLOBE Europe, German Liberal Party (ALDE, Germany)

Petra BAYR MP, GLOBE Europe Focal Point, Social Democratic Party (S&D, Austria)

Senator Roberto DELLA SETA, GLOBE Europe Focal Point, Partito Democratico (S&D, Italy)

Joseph FALZON MP, Vice-President of the Committee on Sustainable Development of the Council of Europe, Nationalist Party, GLOBE Europe Focal Point (EPP, Malta)

Hugo Alfonso MORÁN MP, Environmental Spokesman, GLOBE Europe Focal Point, Socialist Spanish Party (S&D, Spain)

Senator Bedrich MOLDAN, Vice-President of the Environment Committee of the Czech Senate, GLOBE Europe Focal Point, Civic Democratic Party (CER, Czech Republic)

Marcel OBERWEIS MP, GLOBE Europe Focal Point, Christian Social Popular Party (EPP, Luxembourg)

Serge POIGNANT MP, Vice-President of the Committee on Economic Affairs, GLOBE Europe Focal Point, Union pour un Mouvement Populaire (EPP, France)

Mark SOOSAAR MP, GLOBE Europe Focal Point, Social Democratic Party (S&D, Estonia)

Pentti TIUSANEN MP, GLOBE Europe Focal Point, Left Alliance (GUE/NGL, Finland)

Boris VAN DER HAM, GLOBE Europe Focal Point, D-66 (ALDE, Netherlands)

Milenko ZIHERL MP, GLOBE Europe Focal Point, President of GLOBE Slovenia, Slovenska demokratska stranka (EPP, Slovenia)

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Anton ANDERLIČ MP, Club of the Liberal Democracy of Slovenia, (ALDE, Slovenia)

Ida AUKEN MP, Socialist People's Party (Greens/EFA, Denmark)

Xavier BAESELEN MP, Mouvement Réformateur (ALDE, Belgium)

Greg BARKER MP for Bexhill and Battle, Conservative Party, Shadow Energy and Climate Minister (ERC, United Kingdom)

Chantal BERTHELOT MP for Guyane, Parti Socialiste, radical et citoyen (S&D, France)

Alessandro BRATTI MP, Partito Democratico (S&D, Italy)

Malcolm BRUCE MP for Gordon, Liberal Democrats (ALDE, UK)

Maxime BONO MP for Charente-Maritime, Socialist Radical Left Group (S&D, France)

Christophe BOUILLON MP for Seine-Maritime, Parti Socialiste, radical et citoyen (S&D, France)

Marco BULOW MP, Social Democratic Party (S&D, Germany) Paul BURSTOW MP for Sutton & Cheam, Liberal Democrats (ALDE, UK)

Jean-Paul CHANTEGUET MP for Indre, Parti Socialiste, radical et citoyen (S&D, France)

David CLARINVAL MP, Vice-President of the Climate and Sustainable Development Committee, Mouvement Réformateur (ALDE, Belgium)

Jean CORNIL MP, Parti Socialiste (S&D, Belgium)

Catherine COUTELLE MP for Vienne, Parti Socialiste, radical et citoyen (S&D, France)

Silva ČRNUGELJ MP, Vice-president of GLOBE Slovenia, Social Democrats (S&D, Slovenia)

Frédéric CUVILLIER MP for Pas-de-Calais, Parti Socialiste, radical et citoyen (S&D, France)

Claude DARCIAUX MP for Côte-d'Or, Parti Socialiste, radical et citoyen (S&D, France)

Camille DE ROCCA SERRA MP for Corse-du-Sud, Member of the Bureau of the Union pour un Mouvement Populaire (EPP, France)

Philippe DURON MP for Calvados, Parti Socialiste, radical et citoyen (S&D, France)

Benny ENGELBRECHT MP, Parliamentary Spokesman on Consumer Affairs, Social Democrat Party (S&D, Denmark)

Albert FACON MP, Parti Socialiste, radical et citoyen (S&D, France)

Senator Francesco FERRANTE, Partito Democratico (S&D, Italy)

Geneviève FIORASO MP for Isère, Parti Socialiste, radical et citoyen (S&D, France)

Jean-Jacques FLAHAUX MP, Mouvement Réformateur (ALDE, Belgium)

Matevž FRANGEZ MP, Social Democrats (S&D, Slovenia)

Geneviève GAILLARD MP for Deux Sèvres, Parti Socialiste, radical et citoyen (S&D, France)

Pavel GANTAR MP, Speaker of the National Assembly of Slovenia, former Environment Minister, Zares (ALDE, Slovenia)

Barry GARDINER MP for Brent North , Vice-President of GLOBE UK, Labour Party (S&D, United Kingdom)

Jean GAUBERT MP for Côtes-d'Armor, Parti Socialiste, radical et citoyen (S&D, France)

Ljubo GERMIČ MP, Club of the Liberal Democracy of Slovenia (ALDE, Slovenia)

Mette GJERSKOV MP, Social Democrat Party (S&D, Denmark)

Councillor Dr. Janvit GOLOB, National Council of Republic of Slovenia

Josef GÖPPEL MP, Christian Democratic Union (EPP, Germany)

Pascale GOT MP for Gironde, Parti Socialiste, radical et citoyen (S&D, France)

Jean GRELLIER MP for Deux-Sèvres, Parti Socialiste, radical et citoyen (S&D, France)

John HEMMING, Liberal Democrat MP for Birmingham (ALDE, UK)

Simon HUGHES MP for North Southwark & Bermondsey, Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (ALDE, UK)

Chris HUHNE MP for Eastleigh, Liberal Democrats (ALDE, UK)

Lord Julian HUNT FRS, Vice-President of GLOBE UK, former head of the UK Meteorological Office (Labour Party (S&D, United Kingdom)

Anne-Grete HOLMSGAARD MP, Socialist People's Party (Greens/EFA, Denmark)

Lord Michael JAY, Cross bench Member of House of Lords (United Kingdom)

Wiwi-Anne JOHANSSON MP, Left Party (GUE/NGL, Sweden)

Eric JOYCE MP for Falkirk, Labour Party (S&D, United Kingdom)

Andreas JUNG MP, Christian Democratic Union (EPP, Germany)

Armand JUNG MP for Bas-Rhin, Parti Socialiste, radical et citoyen (S&D, France)

Franko JURI MP, Zares (ALDE, Slovenia)

Luka JURI MP, Social Democrats (S&D, Slovenia)

Vasja KLAVORA MP, Vice-President of the Slovenian National Assembly, Democratic Party of Pensioners (Slovenia)

Kalev KOTKAS MP, Social Democratic Party (S&D, Estonia)

Kalvi KOVA MP, Social Democratic Party (S&D, Estonia)

Jean-Yves LE BOUILLONNEC MP for Val-de-Marne, Parti Socialiste, radical et citoyen (S&D, France)

Annick LE LOCH MP, Parti Socialiste, radical et citoyen (S&D, France)

Michel LEFAIT MP for Pas-de-Calais, Parti Socialiste, radical et citoyen (S&D, France)

Annick LEPETIT MP for Paris, Parti Socialiste, radical et citoyen (S&D, France)

Serge LETCHIMY MP for Martinique, Parti Socialiste, radical et citoyen (S&D, France)

Dejan LEVANIČ MP, Social Democrats (S&D, Slovenia)

Raffaella MARIANI MP, Partito Democratico (S&D, Italy)

Kléber MESQUIDA MP for Hérault, Parti Socialiste, radical et citoyen (S&D, France)

Dr. Matthias MIERSCH MP, Social Democratic Party (S&D, Germany)

Fernando MORALEDA MP, Socialist Spokesman on the Joint Congress-Senate Climate Change Committee, Spanish Socialist Party (S&D, Spain)

Dr. Hermann OTT MP, Green Party (Greens/EFA, Germany)

Carina OHLSSON MP, Swedish Social Democratic Party (S&D, Sweden)

Pia OLSEN DYHR MP, Socialist People's Party (Greens/EFA, Denmark)

Councillor Vincenc OTONIČAR, National Council of the Republic of Slovenia

Bertrand PANCHER MP for Meuse, Union pour un Mouvement Populaire (EPP, France)

Breda PEČAN MP, Social Democrats (S&D, Slovenia)

Jean Luc PERAT MP for Nord, Parti Socialiste, radical et citoyen (S&D, France)

Marie-Françoise PEROL-DUMONT MP for Haute- Vienne, Parti Socialiste, radical et citoyen (S&D, France)

Philippe PLISSON MP for Gironde, Parti Socialiste, radical et citoyen (S&D, France)

Councillor Peter POŽUN, National Council of the Republic of Slovenia

Jakob PRESEČNIK MP, Slovenian People´s Party Deputy Group Leader (EPP, Slovenia)

Ermete REALACCI MP, Partito Democratico (S&D, Italy)

Marie-Line REYNAUD MP for Charente, Parti Socialiste, radical et citoyen (S&D, France)

Diederik SAMSOM MP, Partij van de Arbeid (S&D, Netherlands)

Adrian SANDERS MP for Torbay, Liberal Democrats (UK)

Frank SCHWABE MP, Social Democratic Party (S&D, Germany)

Tadej SLAPERNIK MP, Zares (ALDE, Slovenia)

Graham STUART MP for Beverley and Holderness, Conservative Party (ERC, United Kingdom)

Karin SVENSSON-SMITH MP, Swedish Green Party (Greenss/EFA, Sweden)

Jo SWINSON MP for East Dunbartonshire, Liberal Democrats (ALDE, UK)

Philippe TOURTELLIER MP, Vice-President of the Committee on Sustainable Development of the Assemblée nationale, Parti Socialiste, radical et citoyen (S&D, France)

Councillor Jernej VERBIČ, National Council of the Republic of Slovenia

André VEZINHET MP for Hérault, Parti Socialiste, radical et citoyen (S&D, France)

Jean-Michel VILLAUME MP for Haute-Saône, Parti Socialiste, radical et citoyen (S&D, France)

Tim YEO MP for South Suffolk, Conservative Party, Chairman of the Environment Audit Committee (ERC, United Kingdom)

Councillor Drago ŽURA, National Council of the Republic of Slovenia