European Union is all set to deal with climatic change

The 27-membered European Union divulged a striving map to deal climate change effectively on Wednesday, the very much expected plan intend to cuts 20% of the emissions and sets a 20% mandatory quota of renewable energy by 2020.

While addressing the EU Parliament, President Jose Manuel Barroso, asked other member of EU to seize the chance to become world’s leading low-carbon economy.

He informed that the most ambitious plan if executed would cost each EU citizen £ 2.25 per week if the targets are to be achieved. The roadmap also includes updated Emission Trading System (ETS) to create a borderless ETS to drive cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.

Barroso also mentioned the proposal of certification of both domestic and imported biofuels. With this each country would be given a set target of renewable energy.

“What we can say simply, the 20-20-20 by 2020 goes. 20 percent of greenhouse gasses, if not 30 percent in case other developing economies agree. 20 percent of renewable, 20 percent of energy efficiency by 2020. This was agreed by the European Council. We may be proud that Europe is leading that effort,” he added.

While there is disgruntle in Business community which take this proposal to dent their competitive edge and that rich countries will have to take extra load to cut the emissions.

However, while addressing the business issue he said that we don’t want to export our jobs to other parts of the world but energy-intensive industries would be provided emission allowance free of charge.

Mahi Siderido, an environmentalist and a climate change policy officer for Greenpeace International in Brussels said, “We welcome the package as a whole, as the implementation of climate and energy commitments until 2020. But we do think its ambition has to be up considerably for it to have the impact it should have; for it to match the climate challenge that we're faced with.”

Meanwhile the proposal has to go for a series of discussion among all members, environmentalists, business fraternity for amendment before it becomes a law. The entire proposal no doubt seems ambitious but certainly a challenge for the member states.