25 May 2012

MEDIA RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – [Bonn – 25 May 2012] During these past two weeks at the climate negotiations in Bonn, we witnessed an inadequate response from all Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to address the climate crisis. Somehow lost in the din of over technical discussions in Bonn is the fact that global emissions are still rising rather than falling.

CAN Europe calls on the EU to help increase ambition. CAN has been pushing for more attention on short-term emissions reduction targets. It became obvious during these two weeks that especially the most vulnerable countries have not given up on this kind of increased ambition this year. The EU’s presentation at the equity workshop was proactive and positive. It’s clear that if the future global climate agreement is not fair and equitable, it also won’t be ambitious.

“We see ambition and equity as two sides of the same coin,” said Wendel Trio, Director of CAN Europe. “For the EU, this means immediately raising its emissions reduction target at home to at least 30%, which could happen as early as the 11 June meeting of environment ministers. The positive momentum that started building in Bonn won’t kick off by itself.”

In addition, we need to see movement on climate finance. "The EU says it is committed to delivering climate finance in the coming years, but finance ministers have still not been able to confirm that there will be funds available from next year,” said Mattias Söderberg, Senior Advocacy Advisor at DanChurchAid. “This reluctance to make concrete financial commitments is undermining trust among developing countries.”

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18 April 2012

For Immediate Release

Wednesday 18 April Brussels, Climate Action Network Europe (CAN-Europe) and a group of 14 other NGOs and associations [1] are calling on ministers from European Member States to stop gutting the Energy Efficiency Directive. The joint statement comes ahead of an Informal Meeting of Energy Ministers in Horsens, Denmark tomorrow.

NGOs and business groups are demanding that ministers, meeting on Thursday 19 April, stop weakening the draft Energy Efficiency Directive that is currently under negotiation. Member States’ current collective position on this legislative proposal would guarantee that Europe would not achieve its 20% by 2020 energy savings target.[2]

 “Member States thus far seem intent on creating a directive that efficiently achieves next to no action on energy savings,They all say they support efficiency but if you add up their actual positions, the result could be a Directive that is even weaker than existing legislation,” said Erica Hope, Senior Policy Officer at CAN Europe.

“It’s time Ministers wake up to the tremendous benefits that energy savings would bring to their economies and citizens,” concluded Erica Hope, Senior Policy Officer at CAN Europe.

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23 March 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Today's launch of The European Climate Adaptation Platform (CLIMATE- ADAPT), potentially opens a new era in EU Adaptation policies. This platform marks a continuation of the process which began in 2009 with the EU's White paper on Adaptation. Of the four key areas of focus from the White Paper, this tool is the first to be fleshed out. (1)

The platform will be an essential tool for information sharing and resource exchange on adaptive measures and projects. "This is an important and timely first step, which should lead to EU policy measures on Adaptation. There is a gap of decisive policy action on climate adaptation in Europe. This shortcoming is especially more glaring given how much has been done in the area of mitigation and emissions reductions. In protecting society and people from the impacts of climate change both areas must be given equal attention." Stated Karim Harris Deputy Director CAN-Europe.

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13 March 2012

MEDIA ADVISORY

Tomorrow discussions will be held that may put the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) on dangerous footing. Following the European Parliament ITRE Committee vote on the EED on 28th February, Member States must agree on a Council negotiating mandate for discussions with Parliament. To this end, Coreper will hold a discussion tomorrow (14 March) and another next Wednesday (21 March) with the aim of agreeing this mandate.

A Coreper working document (circulated to Coreper by the Danish Presidency) from March 8 has left NGOs very concerned. It paves the way for a Council position so confused and diluted it will make constructive discussions with the Parliament almost impossible. 

Key NGO concerns include: 

Overall targets: Not only are Member States refusing to consider binding national targets, as recommended by the ITRE committee, they are seeking to open up the definition of the long-standing EU 20% overall energy efficiency target. 

Article 6 - cumulative yearly savings of 1.5% per year via obligations on energy companies: The Commission calls this article the “centerpiece” of the Directive, as it is expected to deliver up to 1/3 of the energy savings potential of the EED. Member States are seeking to use slick accounting tricks to reduce the amount of energy that is covered by this provision, including by counting ‘early actions’ (i.e., measures that have already been carried out), excluding ETS industries and counting all savings that will be achieved over the lifetime of a measure during the first year it is implemented.

If these provisions are included in the EED, it would be gutted of much of its potential, putting the EU on a course farther and farther away from its long-term decarbonisation goals.

If you’d like to discuss these issues further please don’t hesitate to contact Erica (at) caneurope.org or Vanessa (at) caneurope.org