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The EU Spring Summit, chaired by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, has adopted binding targets on carbon emission reductions and renewable energy. Meeting from 8-9 March, the leaders of the 27 EU member states agreed to a package based on the new energy strategy the European Commission launched in January (see Bridges Trade BioRes, 19 January 2007, http://www.ictsd.org/biores/07-01-19/story1.htm). Seeking to show global leadership in addressing climate change, the EU agreed to make a unilateral 20 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 — although they would be willing to cut emissions by 30 percent if other countries came on board — and took on a 20 percent binding target for renewables. Countries have not yet decided on how to share the burden of implementing the targets among themselves, and the targets are not sector specific.
“I really believe now Europe can go on leading the global community in matters of climate protection,” said European Commission president Jose Emanuel Barroso. Merkel, for her part, is hoping this agreement will help build momentum for the meeting of G-8 industrialised countries to be held in June, which is set to address climate change. “We think that Europe could set an example for others to implement more attractive and better climate protection goals,” she said, adding that “By this I mean, for example, the United States and developing countries India and China.”
Meanwhile, the UK has become the first EU country to take on binding national targets that go beyond those agreed at the EU level. The UK is set to make a 60 percent cut to its carbon emissions by 2050.
“Europe Takes the Lead in Fighting Climate Change,” DER SPIEGEL, 9 March 2007; “EU faces tough decisions on climate change and renewables,” EURACTIV, 7 March 2007; “Spring European Council: tackling global climate change,” EU WEBSITE, 9 March 2007; “EU Can Be Green Model for US, India, China - Merkel,” REUTERS, 12 March 2007; “EU Agrees Binding Energy/Climate Goals - Merkel,” REUTERS, 12 March 2007.
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