Posted on 10/16/2008 6:56:27 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
BRUSSELS (AFP) – European Union leaders fought growing pressure Thursday to roll back their climate change plans, standing by their targets and timetable for the package as the financial crisis bites.
After Italy and Poland brandished the threat of a veto if their reservations were not taken into account, Germany, Europe's largest economy, also voiced concerns over the ambitious environmental plans.
"I can confirm that the objectives remain the same, the calendar remains the same, now it's up to (us) to find solutions for those countries that expressed concerns," French President Nicolas Sarkozy said.
"The climate package is so important that we cannot simply drop it, under the pretext of a financial crisis," warned Sarkozy, whose country holds the EU's rotating presidency, at the close of an EU summit in Brussels.
Last year, EU leaders vowed to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2020, compared to 1990 levels. They also pledged to have renewable energies make up 20 percent of all energy sources.
But many EU nations have begun to baulk at the costs involved and the consequences to industry of the climate change goals when they are cut up into individual national targets.
Even German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who triumphantly unveiled the targets last year, conceded the EU has "lots of work" ahead if it is to reach agreement.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
in a few years the euros will be more concerned with internal jihad.
EXcellent!!!!
Local residents build a wooden house in the remote Kodori Gorge. The Kodori Gorge remains at the heart of growing tensions between Moscow and Tbilisi and a potential flashpoint for war in this volatile region. European Union leaders headed home from a summit that saw unity on fixing the global financial system but schisms when it came to an ambitious climate pact and repairing ties with Russia. (AFP/Vano Shlamov)
Hey Euroweenies, it must be working, some places are having much earlier temps, thanks a lot!! Keep it up, See ya!
Silly Eurotwits. Man’s ability to influence climate is like a fart in a whirlwind.
Radical environmentalism was on the ballot in Canada. It lost.
Environmental extremism is for rich countries. Cleanliness follows affluence. Sustainable development is something rich leftists want to impose on poor economies.
It’s amazing how the rest of Europe let Germany snooker them. I wonder why they insisted 1990 be the base year for emissions reductions?
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