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COP15: Gordon Brown calls on EU to cut emissions by 30%

After the flurry of the opening day at the Copenhagen climate change summit, discussions get underway with UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown is calling on the EU to commit to a 30% cut in emissions by 2020.

The EU is currently offering a 20% cut, with the option of increasing the target if other nations such as the US and China commit to significant reductions.

The Group of 77 developing nations is also calling on the EU to pledge deeper emissions cuts and commit to helping the developing world. However, EU negotiators are keeping their cards to their chest for the moment.

Meanwhile, South Africa announced yesterday that it would commit to cutting its carbon emissions by 34% by 2020 and 42% by 2025 if it received support from developed nations. The nation currently generates most of its electricity from coal and the move would require a major shift.

And in what could prove very significant for discussions, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) yesterday issued a statement confirming that greenhouse gas emissions threaten public health and the environment.

The so-called “endangerment” finding allows the EPA to regulate emissions through the existing Clean Air Act and could also allow the Obama Administration to implement carbon emission legislation even if the current Climate Change Bill is rejected.

“These long-overdue findings cement 2009’s place in history as the year when the US Government began addressing the challenge of greenhouse-gas pollution and seizing the opportunity of clean-energy reform,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson.

Meanwhile, a statement from the White House is backing Brown’s calls for a $10 billion a year fund to help developing nations adopt low-carbon technologies and adapt to climate change.

The White House also confirms that it will be “most productive” for President Barack Obama to attend COP15 on December 18, rather than this week.

For further information:
http://en.cop15.dk/frontpage
www.number10.gov.uk/
www.g77.org/
www.epa.gov/
www.whitehouse.gov/

08 December 2009

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