Issues
So Much Hot Air?
During the UK Presidency of the EU 2005 Tony Blair said that Climate change was the most important environmental challenge we face and promised action. The UK however failed to deliver.
The UKs CO2 emissions are rising rapidly and Jean, along with fellow Green MEP Caroline Lucas published ‘So Much Hot Air?’ a report to mark the UK presidency of the EU. It examined the UK’s response to five EU directives designed to reduce CO2 emissions.
“The UK has promised action on climate change and signally failed to deliver. How on earth does Tony Blair think he can exercise global leadership on tackling climate change when he won’t even implement those measures already agreed. The UK’s CO2 emissions are rising – and this report outlines some of the steps the Government can take immediately to stem the tide and cut CO2 emissions in line with our commitments under international law and its own targets.”
Jean Lambert, Green MEP
Results
The report confirmed that the UK had been slow to implement environmental directives and had failed to promote binding targets for reducing CO2 emissions throughout the first three months of its presidency.
The report called on the UK Government to:
- Fully implement the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive
- Promote challenging and binding targets for energy demand reduction under the Energy Services Directive
- Push for early review and strict improvements to the national allocations under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme
- Replace voluntary agreements for the Eco-design and End-use Products directive with binding targets]
- Set challenging and binding targets for the development of combined heat and power generation
- Promote the EU Energy Green Paper and the need to conserve energy
Download the full report here.
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