When it comes to greenhouse gas emissions, the EU is well ahead of the petro-states, Canada included. Ottawa may have proclaimed a "climate emergency" first but, chances are, the Euros are more sincere.
Although passed with a comfortable majority, with 429 votes in favour, 225 votes against and 19 abstentions – MEPs across the political spectrum warned against making symbolic gestures.
Environmental campaigners said the declaration was not backed by sufficient action. “Our house is on fire. The European parliament has seen the blaze, but it’s not enough to stand by and watch,” said Greenpeace’s EU climate policy adviser, Sebastian Mang, shortly before the vote.
In a separate vote on Thursday, MEPs backed a resolution stating that current EU climate targets were “not in line” with the 2015 Paris climate agreement, which calls for keeping global heating “well below” 2C above pre-industrial levels, but aiming to cap temperature rises at 1.5C.
MEPs backed a tougher target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030, an improvement on the current 40% target, but derided by Green politicians and campaigners as inadequate.
Unfortunately most Canadians are more interested in Black Friday and buying trinkets than the "climate emergency", Mound.
ReplyDelete-MC
MEPs?
ReplyDeleteWay back in the last century, I was taught to spell out the name in full, capitalizing the first letters. Put the abbreviation in brackets following the name, then use the abbreviation.
I understand, MC. I do wish it wasn't so.
ReplyDeleteWell Steve it seems they've changed the style book over at the Guardian. I suppose by now MEP has evolved from an acronym to a colloquialism.
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