9th March 2007 - Euro-MP welcomes European governments' "world leading" commitments on climate change

Yorkshire and the Humber MEP Linda McAvan, Labour's Environment Spokesperson in the European Parliament, has welcomed the news from Brussels today that EU governments have agreed new cuts in carbon emissions and committed to use more renewable energy sources in fight against climate change.

Governments have been meeting in Brussels over the past two days to thrash out a new deal to help prevent climate change. They have agreed a binding 20% cut in carbon emissions from 1990 levels by 2020, and that 20% of Europe's energy should come from renewable sources. Ministers have also instructed the European Commission to set up flagship projects to test out carbon capture technology - which could mark the beginning of successful 'clean coal' power plants - and to phase out old-fashioned light bulbs in favour of energy efficient bulbs by 2010.

Linda McAvan said;

"Climate change presents the most serious problem facing the world over the coming decades. In some of the poorest parts of the world, the effects are already being felt with deadly force. Relatively small rises in sea levels within the next century would see large parts of Yorkshire and the Humber region flooded. For that reason alone, it was important that Ministers came to an agreement this week, and in the end they've come up with a very promising package. Measures to encourage carbon capture and promote energy efficient light bulbs will help each of us as individuals to play our part and reduce our own carbon footprints."

But she added;

"A 20% cut in carbon emissions is not in itself enough. But it does put pressure on the rest of the world to act. If the USA and other countries can be brought on side, Ministers have indicated that they will raise their efforts to make a 30% cut. That puts the EU in a world leading position on climate change. It gives us meaningful political leverage to avert the worst affects of climate change."