Following on from the January launch of the Commission’s climate and energy package, it is essential that Member States honour their commitment to ambitious and binding emission reduction targets.
On 28 February David Baldock, IEEP’s Executive Director, and the heads of the main UK environment and development NGOs attended a meeting with Prime Minister Gordon Brown on the future of climate policy. There were differences of opinion over the extent of the UK Government’s commitment and achievements in climate policy. David stressed the need for the Prime Minister to demonstrate a stronger personal commitment to the EU dimension of climate policy, in response to which he claimed a firm belief in a European approach. The need for ambitious, binding EU level action was stressed, along with the need for the UK to be a proactive lead in Europe on climate.
In preparation for the meeting IEEP produced a Briefing stressing that the adoption of the package is central to the EU’s credibility in future international climate talks. Importantly it highlights that this is still far from a ‘done deal’ in reality, having to be approved by all Member States. The briefing concludes that sustained political pressure will be needed and a disciplined approach by supporters of the Package in both Council and Parliament if it is to be adopted in anything like its current form. The briefing is the first in a series by IEEP to focus on the Climate and Energy Package aimed at helping others to interpret the issues associated with the package.
