Climate Change
Since we began recording temperature in the 1850s the ten warmest years worldwide have occurred in the past eleven years and 2006 marked the warmest year in the UK and the Netherlands and the warmest autumn in Denmark, Norway, Switzerland and Germany. Apart from heat waves, forest fires and prolonged droughts, mainly in Southern Europe, climate change has led to more extreme precipitation in Northern Europe, which has the potential to unleash devastating floods.
Nature is at risk, but also people in Europe are already witnessing climate change in their personal and professional life. This situation has to change if we want future generations to live on a safe planet.
According to scientists, in order to stay below 2°C global warming compared to pre-industrial temperatures – the objective endorsed by the European Union – an overall greenhouse gas emissions reduction of 30% by 2020 and 80% by 2050 compared to 1990 is needed in all developed nations.
As global warming results from the release of greenhouse gases from human activities – and particularly from burning fossil fuels – it is vital to put in place international policies to reduce use of mainly coal and oil by substitution with clean and renewable energies, but also focusing on energy efficiency and conservation.
European commitments
In 1997 in Kyoto, the parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) agreed on the Kyoto Protocol which entered into force in 2005. Under the Kyoto Protocol the European Union (the EU-15) committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 8% by 2012 compared to 1990.
More recently the European Heads of State and Government (this time 27 nations) decided to reduce greenhouse gases by up to 30% by 2020. They also established targets of 20% renewable energy and 10% biofuels to be achieved by the same date.
The European Union has a great responsibility to put into practice what has been promised. Failing to do so, the EU will not fulfill its global responsibility as the largest industrialised trading bloc in the world.
The cornerstone of the EU climate policy is the European Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS), the world’s first mandatory scheme. The EU ETS is a significant example of how market-based mechanisms can instigate low carbon investments in polluting companies. To be effective and deliver results, however, the EU ETS needs to be dramatically strengthened.
The EU also needs to put in place ambitious policies for energy efficiency and renewable power sources.
Dirty coal
Despite burning coal generating 70% more carbon dioxide than natural gas for every unit of energy produced, coal consumption enjoys a large revival because it is cheaper than the other fossil fuels and much more abundantly available across the globe. Fossil fuels will still dominate the energy supply for many years, which has significant implications for climate change solutions.
As nearly half of Europe’s power stations will need to be replaced within the next 20 years, it is important to move the European power sector towards a more environmentally responsible development.
Any policy to develop a sustainable energy system must be based on a strong priority for renewable sources and efficiency. To address the significant pollution problems of “dirty coal” WWF supports carbon capture and storage (CCS) solutions to help prevent dangerous climate changes. Carbon capture and storage is a way to mitigate climate change by capturing and compressing carbon dioxide from large sources and storing it away instead of releasing it into the atmosphere.
WWF and businesses
Economic damage from climate-related disasters grew tenfold to 41 billion euros between the 1950s and 90s, and could increase to 130 billion euros annually by 2010. WWF recognizes that business and industry have a key role in innovation.
With the Climate Savers Programme, a scheme which mobilises companies to cut carbon emissions, WWF has formed partnerships with many businesses to achieve the necessary shift toward a low carbon economy.
