EU seeks to gain clout in climate change debate (Roundup)

Jan 16, 2010, 20:04 GMT

Seville, Spain - European Union countries struggled Saturday to reach a consensus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions in an attempt to regain influence in the global debate on climate change ahead of the next United Nations climate conference in Mexico.

'We have an incredible mutual diplomatic network and we want to pool them to make Mexico a success,' Belgian Environment Minister Paul Magnette said at an informal meeting of EU environment ministers in the Spanish city of Seville.

There was, however, disagreement over whether the EU should commit to cutting its emissions by 20 or 30 per cent.

'There was unanimous support that (both) are realistic figures,' said Spanish climate change secretary of state Teresa Ribera, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency.

At the Copenhagen climate conference in December, the EU had not played a sufficient role to make it successful, German Environment Minister Norbert Roettgen said.

The United States had not even 'come close' to the European position while China had used 'preventative' tactics, Roettgen complained, urging the EU to build 'tactical alliances' ahead of the Mexico conference between November and December.

The European Commission wants the EU to start implementing the non-binding Copenhagen agreement immediately in order to push for a legally binding deal in Mexico.

The Copenhagen agreement requires all nations to present emission reduction targets by January 31.

The EU has long said that it would cut emissions by 20 per cent by 2020 compared to 1990, increasing this to 30 per cent if other countries make comparable commitments.

However, disagreements surfaced in Seville, with countries such as Britain and the Netherland calling for an immediate 30 per cent commitment.

Others, such as Poland and Italy, wanted to omit a reference to a reduction of more than 20 per cent, sources close to the negotiations said.

'We need to go to the maximum, but not allow Europe to break up over this question,' French Environment Minister Jean-Louis Borloo said.

If Europe committed to a 30 per cent cut and other countries did not follow suit, it should be possible to consider protecting European industry with measures such as taxes on products imported from nations that block the adoption of binding reduction targets, Borloo said.

EU ambassadors were due to discuss the target in Brussels on January 20.

Jo Leinen, who chairs the environmental committee at the European Parliament, said the EU 'could find enough partners for a deal' if it developed climate change diplomacy.

Leinen and Ribera stressed that the negotiations should take place within the United Nations which was the only global forum.

They were seen as reacting to suggestions from the United States that the most contaminating countries should seal a deal outside of 'chaotic' UN meetings, Spanish media reported.

'On other hand, we cannot allow ourselves to be blocked by a handful of countries,' Leinen conceded.