Report suggests 40% emission reductions in EU zone feasible by 2020
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Tuesday, 08 December 2009 10:21
According to a new report released by the Stockholm Environment Institute in partnership with Friends of the Earth Europe released on 1 December, it is well within the EU’s capabilities to reduce emissions by 40% by 2020. The paper, entitled ‘Europe’s Share of the Climate Challenge: Domestic Actions and International Obligations to Protect the Planet’, also says that the EU would be able to reduce GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions by 90% by 2050. These figures reflect the scale that scientists currently see as the minimum needed to be enforced by rich countries, if dangerous climate change is to be averted.
Speaking after its publication the director of Friends of the Earth Europe, Magda Stockiewicz said that ‘This study proves that it is possible for Europe to deliver its fair share of necessary global emission cuts. A 40% cut by 2020 in Europe is feasible and affordable, and it can be done without resorting to dangerous or unproven solutions. Current political proposals are not ambitious enough - we need a bold shift in policy and determination from European politicians now.’
The report outlines various ways that it believes such goals can be achieved, with radical improvements in energy efficiency, accelerated phase-out of fossil fuels and introduction of renewable energies as well as lifestyle changes cited as means of doing so. It even suggests that the EU does not in fact need to rely on nuclear power, CCS (carbon capture and storage) or biofuels to achieve these ambitious targets.
In terms of lifestyle changes, the authors say that provided there is a steady shift towards public transport, then their model predicts that a 43% reduction in trips by car by 2050 would result in a carbon footprint of each individual 8 times lower than today, whilst a further part of the savings would be achieved by increasingly switching to electrical cars.
Catherine Bowyer, a policy analyst at the Institute for European Environmental Policy, who work closely with GLOBE, studied the report and gave her backing to the predictions, saying they were reasonable. The next step will be making sure the tangible deadlines and deliverables’ that are necessary for these goals to be met, to be put in place.
Speaking after its publication the director of Friends of the Earth Europe, Magda Stockiewicz said that ‘This study proves that it is possible for Europe to deliver its fair share of necessary global emission cuts. A 40% cut by 2020 in Europe is feasible and affordable, and it can be done without resorting to dangerous or unproven solutions. Current political proposals are not ambitious enough - we need a bold shift in policy and determination from European politicians now.’
The report outlines various ways that it believes such goals can be achieved, with radical improvements in energy efficiency, accelerated phase-out of fossil fuels and introduction of renewable energies as well as lifestyle changes cited as means of doing so. It even suggests that the EU does not in fact need to rely on nuclear power, CCS (carbon capture and storage) or biofuels to achieve these ambitious targets.
In terms of lifestyle changes, the authors say that provided there is a steady shift towards public transport, then their model predicts that a 43% reduction in trips by car by 2050 would result in a carbon footprint of each individual 8 times lower than today, whilst a further part of the savings would be achieved by increasingly switching to electrical cars.
Catherine Bowyer, a policy analyst at the Institute for European Environmental Policy, who work closely with GLOBE, studied the report and gave her backing to the predictions, saying they were reasonable. The next step will be making sure the tangible deadlines and deliverables’ that are necessary for these goals to be met, to be put in place.
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