MEPs: NEW CLIMATE THREAT DEMANDS URGENT ACTION

ENERGY EXPERTS AND EURO-MPs’ STARK WARNING AT LONDON SEMINAR

European Green MEPs have called for immediate action to be taken on EU energy policy as news that a sudden jump in global CO2 levels unlinked to industrial emissions has been detected by scientists in Hawaii.

MEPs and energy experts speaking at a seminar in London on ‘the economics of energy’ called for an urgent new approach to energy policy in response to the possibility that the devastating effects of climate change may be more imminent than previously predicted.

They also warned that EU policy has allowed public utilities from across Europe to buy up private energy providers in the UK. Much of London’s electricity is now provided by French state-owned ‘Electricité de France’, for example.

Speaking at a the seminar, which was sponsored by Euro-MPs from across the EU to coincide with the European Social Forum, the capital’s Green Party MEP Jean Lambert said:

“It is time policy makers woke up to the dangerous realities of climate change. If we are to get serious on the very real threats that climate
change poses the world we need fresh thinking and urgent action.”

Luxembourg Green MEP Claude Turmes discussed monopolistic behaviour in the energy market and Spanish Green MEP David Hammerstein talked about the renewable energy sector in Spain.

Kai Schlegemilch explored the ways the German government has ‘taken on nuclear’ with a combination of energy savings, improved efficiency and renewable generation, and Director of Sustainable Energy Action Chris Dunham discussed the renewable energy sector in the UK.

Mrs Lambert added: “There are alternatives to fossil fuel power generation and none of them are nuclear. The EU has enough financial and human capital at is disposal, and from the recent experience of convincing Russia to sign up to the Kyoto protocol, it is clear we have enough political capital to make a difference. Europe can and must become a leader in the fight against climate change."

"Renewable energy is becoming ever more viable, but the current rate of development is too slow. We must invest more in renewable research and we need to step up the level of political commitment to developing and using alternative sources of energy.

“Instead of an EU energy strategy for the future, we have the ludicrous situation where huge power firms like Electricité de France are using public money to buy private companies. The European Commission has allowed a French state-owned firm to swallow up the company that used to sell London’s electricity with taxpayers’ money and this is unacceptable."

ENDS

Editors’ note: The seminar took place at the UK Office of the European Parliament. Jpegs available on request.

For more information please contact Ben on 01273 671946, 07973 823358 or at press@greenmeps.org.uk