Newsletter July-October
Theodoros SkylakakisCall for cuts in non-CO2 greenhouse emissions
European and international efforts to protect the climate have focused primarily on long term reductions of CO2 emissions. However there are many other substances which warm the Earth like the Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) used in refrigeration systems or black carbon seen as a significant contributor to Arctic ice-melt. We therefore needed to urge for more European action against the so called non-CO2 emissions.
Along with my Austrian colleague Richard Seeber (EPP) we suggested a motion for a resolution which was almost unanimously voted in Plenary of the European Parliament in September 2011, on action to reduce the non-CO2 climate-relevant anthropogenic emissions. The Parliament has also asked the representatives of the European Commission if the European Commission is planning to present a legislative proposal in regard to the non-CO2 emissions.
This resolution complements the actions undertaken from July to November 2010, when the Parliament initiated and succeeded into prompting the Commission to adopt a Regulation on restricting after 2013, the use of CDM credits from projects involving the destruction of HFC-23 in the EU ETS. The European Commission had successfully then responded to the challenge ahead of the Conference of the Parties in Cancun. It can now make a step further, address the non-CO2 emissions and have an immediate positive effect in the environment. This is why we called, on HFCs for example, the Commission to explore ways to promote an immediate phase-down at international level, through the successful Montreal Protocol
It is of great significance here to underline the potentials of cutting the non CO2 emissions in relation to reducing the cost of fighting climate change. The public price for reducing some HFCs is 5 to 10 cents per tonne, whereas now the carbon price is over 13 Euros per tonne. We can reduce these emissions in a timely manner and with the existing tools. Either through international fora or bilateral agreements, the European Union can show once again its leading role in the fight against climate change.
(Editorial of MEP Theodoros Skylakakis)Documents
How to make farms rich in biodiversity? - IFOAM UN Environment Programme’s Finance Initiative - UNEP Innovation, Productivity and Sustainability - ECPA Debate: What role for minerals in improving resource efficiency? Interview of MEP Satu Hassi UN Environment Programme’s Finance Initiative - UNEP Conclusions of the event on the International Year of Forests Editorial MEP Theodoros Skylakakis