Conservatives champion Barroso's climate change agenda but question the emphasis on renewables
Posted, March 27, 2008 @ 00:00
Countries should be free to choose how to reach climate change targets
Giles Chichester MEP, Conservative Leader in the European Parliament, has questioned the EU's emphasis on targeting renewable energy sources in its fight against climate change, calling for member states to choose their own methods to achieve CO2 emissions reduction.
Whilst championing the EU's success in leading the agenda on environmental policy Mr Chichester warned that there is little point in setting ambitious targets which ultimately prove too difficult to achieve.
Mr Chichester said: "We must be realistic in our approach to climate change. So far we have placed too much emphasis on targeting renewable energy sources as an end in itself, rather than a means to an end. Renewables are not the only solution."
Reaffirming the commitment to a 60% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050, Mr Chichester advised that a range of options should be used to achieve that target.
He added: "European countries have different energy needs. We should stick to the overall target and allow member states to decide for themselves how to reach it."