Quercus considers insufficient targets set by the EU but … – Reuters

                 

                         
                     

                 

 
                         

If, on the one hand, considers that the targets set on Thursday by European Union countries in the areas of energy and climate are insufficient to avoid negative consequences of an increase in average global temperature of the planet, the environmental association Quercus commends the perseverance of the European leaders in the “very intense” negotiations that ended up having a “positive outcome” to set three goals and not just one.

                     

                          “In the emission of greenhouse gas, the goals are not enough to manage to get in the way of the temperature rise below two degrees Celsius. To do this, we needed a goal to reduce 55% by 2030,” explained the PUBLIC Ana Rita Antunes, Specialist Group on Energy and Climate Quercus.

The agreement on the “climate and energy package” reached after negotiations that dragged on until dawn predicts binding reduction targets emissions of greenhouse gases of 40% compared to 1990 levels “Therefore, it is not a good deal,” said the environmentalist, who cautioned, however, the positive aspect of the Heads of State and Government of 28 have also reached agreement on two other goals: raising the bar of renewables to 27% of energy consumed (Europe-wide binding target, but not in every country) and improve energy efficiency by 27% (an indicative target and whose goal initial was 30%)

The Quercus, like other European non-governmental organizations (NGOs), intended, however, have more ambitious goals:. reduction of gas emissions greenhouse 55 % (not just 40%) and increasing the share of renewables to 45% of energy consumption and energy efficiency by 40%.

The goals met last night “fall short of the goals advocated by NGOs” which are aligned with those advocated by scientific research for the planet “not to suffer the most catastrophic consequences of climate change.” This is “the key point of the fight against climate change”, highlights environmentalist. “In this sense, it is not a good deal”, even in view of the role that the EU can play “to show a strong commitment among other developed countries and the least developed.”

Ana Rita Antunes values However, other aspects of the energy package approved. Recognizes that the negotiations “very difficult” allowed “positive result” three goals and commitment are not just a set – as he wished, for example, the United Kingdom and Prime Minister David Cameron, “to be difficult” to defend internally this position in a country with a growing Euroscepticism.

“This is very good and shows that there are more EU countries wanting three goals than just” he said. “In addition, they can be synergies between the three vectors [emissions reduction, share of renewables and energy efficiency]” that would not exist if only the target for reducing emissions of greenhouse gases have been approved.