By Louise Tait - 24th July 2009
The EU has "a golden opportunity" to take the lead in developing an eco-efficient economy, according to Sweden's enterprise and energy minister Maud Olofsson.
Speaking at the environment and energy ministers meeting in Sweden on Friday, Olofsson told journalists that it is "not enough to be number two… If we are to be competitive and harvest the fruits of this golden opportunity the EU has to be number one."
Speaking alongside Olofsson, EU environment commissioner Stavros Dimas insisted that Europe must "redouble" its efforts to make and win the arguments in favour of green growth, as although "the arguments are convincing… not everyone is yet convinced".
An eco-efficient economy will "drive growth and jobs and lead us towards the low carbon economy that we need to avoid irreversible climate change," said the commissioner.
"A shift towards a new eco-efficient economy means change. This change will create many new opportunities; it will stimulate innovation and growth."
Swedish environment minister Andreas Carlgren said the shift towards an eco-efficient economy would help the EU tackle both the climate challenge and the economic downturn.
Although the EU is faced with what he called "the deepest economic crisis during our lifetime", this is no reason to drop the fight against climate change.
"The economic crisis is the real reason to tackle both climate change and the economic crisis at the same time, because they are linked together. They will give us the chance to make a real difference… to transform the European economy," he said.
Carlgren also emphasised the need for "tough targets" to be agreed upon at the upcoming COP15 climate change conference taking place in Copenhagen later this year.
He said the EU must challenge the gap between what science says is necessary to combat irreversible climate change and what countries have so far agreed to.
In comments clearly directed at Washington, Carlgren said, "The EU will declare very clearly, as we turn to other parties, we expect more. We expect more from developed countries, where we need to see real leadership.
"We are prepared to show it. We have already put 20 per cent on the table; we want to go up to 30 per cent. That is certainly the European ambition.
"We need to see others follow us to that level of ambition among the developed countries so that we can be in line with science. Still that gap is too big."
Carlgren also addressed the efforts of emerging economies towards further reducing their carbon emissions, saying that the EU is prepared to help finance the efforts, provided there was evidence these steps were being taken.
"We know that without money, no deal… but we are paying for emissions reductions… No reductions, no money," he said.
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