On Thursday 28 January, MEP Sirpa Pietikäinen (EPP, FI) sent a letter to the editor of European Voice to challenge the assertion made by Gordon Moffat, Director General of Eurofer (the European Confederation of  iron and steel industries) in the previous week’s paper. Far from having “failed” –as Mr. Moffat affirmed- the EU’s strategy of unilateral commitments of cuts to greenhouse gas emissions is leading the change, she claimed.

Giving the example of EU influence in UN negotiations, Ms. Pietikäinen argues that “past European policies in [the area of CO2 emissions cuts] have had a substantial impact on international opinion and have led to important policy changes by other countries”. She stresses that progressive policies at the European level will have positive effect into the future, as they are likely to encourage third nations to follow the move. According to her, one should not consider that the failure of Copenhagen is enough reason for the EU not to increase its commitment to curbing emissions. Replying to the advocates of the “polluter pays” principle, the Finnish MEP reminds that “there are huge advantages ranging from energy security to job creations in shifting from a high- to a low-carbon economy”.

Sirpa Pietikäinen refutes the arguments on carbon leakage that are often used to justify low levels of ambition in terms of CO2 emissions cuts. “Every year [the EU ETS] has operated, allocations of free permits have exceeded emissions in many industries, including the iron and steel sector”, she argues, adding that “this is a situation that is set to continue until 2013 and will leave many companies with surplus permits to cover their future pollution.” Looking at the European Corporate Leaders’ Group on Climate Change (which represents large, European-based multinational businesses), whose members “called on the European Commission to adopt the 30% target and to work for a solid global carbon price and a robust EU ETS”, she welcomes the fact that “many in the business community are able to see the first-mover advantages of making the shift”.

As the best argument to illustrate her idea that such business initiatives are actually prompting emerging economies to lower their emissions and invest more in renewable energies, Ms. Pietikäinen gives the example of China, which is, according to US Energy Secretary Steve Chu, investing around €6.4bn a month on clean energy.