EU must try harder with climate change efforts, warns top academic

A top British academic says “all areas of society must playits part” in tackling climate change.

Speaking in Brussels,Professor Julia King said it will be vital to stabilise carbon emissions to450-550 parts per million by 2050 in order to avoid a two degree rise intemperature.

She said, “All areas of society must play its part,including transport which is the third largest contributor to world CO2emissions.

“Developing more sustainable bio-fuels may be key to meetingthis challenge, but they are not a silver bullet. “

In 2000, cars accounted for 7 per cent of global carbondioxide emissions, a proportion that under a ‘business-as-usual’ scenario isexpected to double by 2050.

In a reference to the possibility that bio-fuel productionmay have a negative impact on pollution in some parts of the world, she warned,“There are more problems than we realised.”

King, who has drafted a key report on the potential for CO2reductions from cars, was addressing an audience at the West Midlands In Europeoffice in Brussels.

She delivered a stark message to the car and fuel industryand to consumers, saying “ambitious targets are needed to encourage innovationand to
reduce CO2 from fuels sustainably.”

King, a university vice chancellor, also said that moremoney needs to be devoted to research into low energy technologies in order tospeed up progress.

“Consumers also need more help in choosing efficientvehicles, with clear information available on emissions, fuel economy andeco-driving – driving more efficiently.

"We need action fast," King argued.

"The EU should notgive manufacturers extra time to adapt as much technology is already available,which the whole world will need.

 "In the coming yearsAsia will represent a huge potential market for low-emission vehicles and Europe should be in a position to meet that marketopportunity."

The commission welcomed the low-carbon message, with StefanMoser, acting head of the clean air and transport unit in the environment DG,outlining the executive’s position on CO2 reduction and technical improvementsin air conditioning.

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