UK could lead the way at climate talks

Energy Secretary Ed Davey has been commended for pushing forward on a European deal to cut greenhouse gas emissions. The Finnish Prime Minister told the Guardian that Britain had “taken a much stronger role than it used to” which is good news as the UK has a large vested interest and therefore an influential role in brokering a deal.

There have, however, been objections from six central and east European countries who want more financial support before they agree to the EU proposals which include cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 40%, improving energy efficiency by 30% and guaranteeing a 27% market share for renewables by 2030. Poland depends on coal for 90% of its electricity and despite the EU’s pledge to cut emissions by 80-95% by 2050, Poland say that coal will still be its primary energy source with renewables providing just 15% of the country’s energy by 2050.

The Danish climate and energy minister is optimistic that a deal is possible, partly due to British interventions. the main debate is over whether the renewables and efficiency targets should be applicable at a national level or just aggregated across the bloc which would take into account countries such as Denmark which aims to meet the 40% cut a decade early. Denmark also expects 50% of electricity to come from wind power, and it plans to be fossil-free by 2050.

Greenhouse gas levels between 2012 and 2013 grew at their fastest rate since 1984. Mr Davey stressed that a deal at the Paris climate change conference next year would not just help limit the impacts of global warming; it would kick-start a massive transition to low carbon energy production around the world. Ed Davey has now passed on the negotiations to Prime Minister David Cameron and warned him not to drop the baton now that Britain are leading the argument.

Sources: BBC website Sep 2014, Guardian online Oct 2014