May 25, 2007
At the EU's spring council meeting on March 9, leaders adopted a unilateral target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2020, compared to 1990 levels. While heads of state agreed to commit to greater use of renewable energy sources, the emissions targets disappointed green groups.
Council members stopped short of adopting a 30 percent unilateral target, opting instead to make a recommendation that developed countries be more ambitious in cutting back on greenhouse emissions.
"It will be interesting to see the EU trying to persuade [US] President Bush to reduce America's emissions by 30 percent, with EU leaders cowering from adopting such a target for themselves," said Jan Kowalzig, a climate campaigner at Friends of the Earth Europe.
Leaders also agreed that 20 percent of Europe's primary energy should come from renewable sources. Critics, however, argue that the broad target is not only too low, but toothless in principle, as it is not sector-specific. The European Commission agreed in its 'Renewable Energy Roadmap' impact assessment: "A single broad target is too unfocused and fails to provide sufficient guidance and certainty to businesses operating in specific sectors of the market."
Finally, environmental groups have roundly criticised an agreement to cut energy waste by 20 percent by 2020, alleging that the plan lacks enforceability.
