Europe's new and promising climate change plans unveiled

12.58.00am GMT Thu 24th Jan 2008

Bill Newton Dunn (Liberal Democrat MEP for the East Midlands) has welcomed the European Commission's new proposals on how to tackle climate change efficiently and on how to ensure more secure energy supplies in Europe in the future.

Today, the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso outlined the proposals which, amongst other things, aim a 20% cut in greenhouse gases, a 20% increase in energy efficiency and a 20% share of renewables in total EU energy consumption by the year 2020. The energy package also involves specific binding national targets, proposing a new approach to promote renewable targets and new rules to stimulate carbon capture and storage as well as new state aid rules.

The climate change plans also represent a huge economic factor since it will give the opportunity to create new jobs. The Commission expects a creation of one million jobs by 2020 in the renewables sector across Europe.

Speaking from the European Parliament in Brussels this afternoon, Bill Newton Dunn expressed his delight about today's proposals to tackle climate change: "We urgently needed action to tackle climate change and especially a plan for Europe when Kyoto expires in 2012. The Commission's proposals are promising to contribute to a greener Europe in the future and to create a new sector which can boost the economy. This is also a great opportunity for economic growth and diversity in the East Midlands, where the current energy industry, such as wind energy, photovoltaics or biofuels are given the chance to securely expand even further. Member States, namely Spain and Germany, already have significantly increased the number of people employed in these new and flourishing sectors since 2004, so why should it not be the same in our region?."