Satellite pictureSpeech was held 31.01.2007 at European Parliament in Brussels:

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Climate change is a reality. Scientists have been issuing warnings for a long time. And anyone who reads the newspapers attentively will have noticed that these warnings have become more and more radical. Alarming incidents are occurring with increasing frequency and intensity: floods, droughts, the dramatically accelerating melting of icecaps, disappearing species.

… At European level we (therefore) need an ecological innovation and industry policy which systematically promotes environmental technologies such as energy and resource efficient processes and products, or renewable energies. In this way we can achieve the highest possible level of environmental protection, sustainable economic development, competitive advantages and, not least, employment.

For this reason I have taken the theme “Environment, Innovation, Employment” for the German Presidency’s environment programme. Building on the preparatory work previously undertaken in the EU, we want to generate new impetus in the context of the Lisbon Strategy at the Environment Council in February and the Spring Summit in March and elaborate more detailed contributions at the informal meeting of environment ministers in Essen.

However, all these efforts must be supplemented with a definite target for reducing our greenhouse gas emissions. The EU must take on a pioneering role in international climate protection. Climate protection brings home the fact that only a strong alliance of states, like the EU, can be the driving force for achieving the necessary global progress.

I am convinced that together we can succeed once again in strengthening public support for the EU, in particular with the issue of climate protection. This is why my friend David Miliband refers to the EU also as “Environmental Union”.

I support the proposals of the Commission:

1. Without any ifs or buts the EU should endeavour to obtain a commitment from all industrialised countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by at least 30% by 2020.

2. In the - in my view unlikely - event that such an agreement cannot be reached, the EU should already make an unconditional pledge now to reduce its own greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20% by 2020. This will strengthen our international credibility.

A 30% objective should thus be quite clearly set. Some press reports, however, have recently been giving the wrong impression that the Community is only pursuing a 20% target.

With this powerful message, the EU will help break the logjam in international climate negotiations.

… I know that the majority of the European Parliament supports a higher expansion target for renewable energies of 25% by 2020, as well as timeframes reaching further into the future. However, especially in view of the positions of some member states, ranging from very cautious to adverse, I believe that the European Commission’s targets represent a very good basis from which to start.

We must also quickly realise the considerable efficiency potential in the transport sector. To achieve this consumption must be reduced in all segments of the market. To increase energy efficiency in the transport sector a number of measures and policies are needed which, if necessary, could also include legal instruments.

The German dual presidency of the EU and G8 offers a special opportunity and obligation to canvass support for an ambitious, integrated climate and energy policy. The changed constellation of ecology and economy is leading to new alliances and new allies on the international stage as well.

I am sure that as Members of the European Parliament you will support us in our pursuit of these goals.

Thank you for your attention.

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Picture credit: © European Community, 2007