The European Commission today presented a low carbon roadmap, aimed at plotting EU climate change policy up to 2050. The Greens are disappointed with the proposals, which are not compatible with the EU's responsibilities for tackling climate change and limiting the increase in global temperatures to below 2°C. Commenting on the roadmap, Green MEP and EP draftsman (rapporteur) for strengthening the EU's 2020 greenhouse gas target Bas Eickhout said:

"The proposals presented by the Commission today would set the EU on the wrong road for its climate policy up to 2050. The 'low carbon' roadmap will fail to revive EU climate leadership. If the EU follows the path laid out in the roadmap, it will neither reap the benefits of the emerging global clean and green economy nor will it inspire other countries to more ambitious climate policies."

Green MEP and EP environment committee member Satu Hassi added:

"The pathway being proposed by the Commission is not in line with the EU's responsibility as part of its commitment to limiting the increase in global temperatures to below 2°C. The roadmap favours delaying action instead of taking measures now and as a result Europe will be consuming more than its fair share of the global carbon budget.

"Neither the 2020 nor 2050 greenhouse gas targets are sufficient. The Greens therefore call for the EU to step up to an emissions reduction target of at least 30% for 2020 through domestic action and increasing the domestic long-term target to at least 90% by 2050."

See our press release on the EU's energy efficiency plan 2020, also presented today:

http://www.greens-efa.org/cms/pressreleases/dok/373/373553.energy_efficiency@en.htm

Richard More O'Ferrall,

Press and media officer,

Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament

Mobile: +32-477-443842 - Ph. +32-22841669 (Brussels); +33-388174042

www.greens-efa.eu - http://twitter.com/GreensEP