Ten days before the global community converges in Copenhagen to reach an agreement on the essential elements of a comprehensive deal on climate change, MEPs adopted a resolution urging EU leaders to demonstrate political leadership to make the summit a success.
"The EU can win a positive result in Copenhagen by putting its cards on the table now instead of playing poker with its negotiating position," said Finnish Green MEP Satu Hassi after the vote in Parliament.
In a resolution adopted by an overwhelming majority of 516 votes to 92, with 70 abstentions, MEPs said developed countries should "significantly" reduce CO2 emissions at the high end of the 25-40% range by 2020, while developing countries as a group should limit their emissions increase to 15-30%.
"The EU has taken up a leadership position in the fight for climate protection and we want to keep it that way in Copenhagen. Therefore we need to stand by our offer: a 30% reduction of CO2 in 2020," said German MEP Jo Leinen, the S&D chair of the environment committee.
Following in the foosteps of EU leaders, the Parliament undersigned a proposal to come up with €5-7 billion of fast-start funding to help developing countries to adapt to global warming and mitigate climate change.
Defying those who use the crisis as an argument for making minimal financial commitments, MEPs emphasise that an agreement in Copenhagen could stimulate a 'Sustainable New Deal' boosting economic growth, promoting environmentally sustainable technologies, reducing energy consumption and securing new jobs in both industrialised and developing countries.
EU climate diplomacy to boost leadership
Encouraging the Union to speak with one voice, MEPs also urged the bloc to develop an external climate policy to maintain a leading role in the UN talks. It is not the first time that the Parliament has pushed for EU climate diplomacy.
Earlier this year, MEPs called for the establishment of a "foreign policy on climate change," drawing attention to the bloc's climate targets at both EU and national diplomatic missions (EurActiv 05/02/09)
MEPs also underlined that international aviation and shipping should be integrated into an international agreement with the same binding targets as for other industry sectors and auctioning of at least 50% of the allowances.
Nuclear energy boosts abstention vote
The Confederal Group of the European United Left / Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL) abstained from voting on the resolution because the adopted text acknowledges nuclear energy as part of the EU's energy mix in the medium term. "As a group we cannot allow the nuclear lobby to be the winners in Copenhagen," MEP Bairbre de Brún said.
