By Martha Moss - 24th May 2011
There is now broad support for a 30 per cent reduction target and a growing realisation that ambitious climate policies are in Europe's own economic interest
Greens MEP Bas Eickhout
Parliament's environment committee has backed proposals for the EU to move to a 30 per cent carbon reduction target on 1990 levels by 2020.
The ENVI committee voted on Tuesday in favour of a resolution to increase the existing 20 per cent target.
The move could create up to six million jobs and provide a much-needed boost to the EU economy, they argued.
Greens MEP Bas Eickhout, who drafted the resolution, said, "The European parliament's position has been shifting over the last year.
"There is now broad support for a 30 per cent reduction target and a growing realisation that ambitious climate policies are in Europe's own economic interest."
While the committee insisted that "offsetting" in other parts of the world could make up a sixth of the target, they said the EU would need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 per cent domestically.
A 'win-win' outcome
Environmental groups welcomed the news, which comes ahead of the plenary vote on the issue scheduled for 23 June.
The Health and Environment Alliance (Heal) and Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH) released a report last year highlighting the public health benefits of strengthening the emissions reduction target.
"This vote paves the way for strong climate policies in the EU that will protect public health," said Heal/HCWH Europe senior policy advisor Pendo Maro.
She said the organisations' report showed that a 30 per cent target could result in annual savings of up to €30bn per year.
"This vote reflects a step away from the previous 'cost' perspective and towards a win-win focus on the colossal benefits for public health, innovation and productivity of action to mitigate climate change," she added.
Catherine Pearce from the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) said the committee had recognised "the clear benefits to be gained by moving to 30 per cent now which would ensure the EU curbs its carbon addiction as soon as possible to save money and the climate".
She added, "The current 20 per cent target is no more than business as usual. A real climate policy needs an ambitious target, responding to science, without loopholes. Moving to 30 per cent by 2020 would be an important first step."
