EU Climate Change and Energy Policy
The town of Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire, UK, was badly affected by the floods in July 2007.
Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing the world and its consequences are also knocking on Europe’s door, bringing heat waves, forest fires, prolonged droughts, and extreme rainfall linked to devastating floods in recent years.
Climate change stems from greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which currently increase by about 3% per year primarily because of the burning of fossil fuels for energy production and tropical deforestation.
Unacceptable risks of climate change can only be avoided if developed nations need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2020 and by 95% by 2050 – this gives a good probability of staying below 2° C warming, and keeps WWF’s goal of a 1.5° C maximum within reach.
The European Union’s Member States have endorsed the 2° limit, but current targets are only at 20% by 2020 and 80-95% by 2050. Now, the EU has a great responsibility to put into practice what has been promised.
Unacceptable risks of climate change can only be avoided if developed nations need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2020 and by 95% by 2050 – this gives a good probability of staying below 2° C warming, and keeps WWF’s goal of a 1.5° C maximum within reach.
The European Union’s Member States have endorsed the 2° limit, but current targets are only at 20% by 2020 and 80-95% by 2050. Now, the EU has a great responsibility to put into practice what has been promised.
CONTACT
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Jason Anderson
Head, EU Climate & Energy Policy
WWF European Policy Office
+32 2 740 09 35
WWF's EU Climate & Energy blog
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