EU leaders may have pledged more money to help developing countries adapt to climate change - but when it comes to cutting their own emissions, they are still not aiming high enough, said the Green Party leader today.
Caroline Lucas, South East MEP and Green Party candidate tipped to win Brighton Pavilion in the coming general election, explained:
"Gordon Brown said last week that he will try to persuade EU leaders to commit to 30% cuts in carbon emissions by 2020. Halfway through negotiations, the EU has only agreed to 20% cuts compared to 1990 levels.
"But 30% simply isn't good enough. The science is clear: if we want even a 50/50 chance of keeping global temperature increase below the crucial 2 degrees, past which runaway warming becomes increasingly likely, nothing short of 40% cuts by EU countries will do."
Offsetting an "unacceptable cop-out - we need real cuts in Europe's own emissions"
The Greens have pointed to reports that climatic instability is already reckoned to be causing 300,000 premature deaths and $125bn of damage globally every year. "But the consequences of runaway climate change if we don't meet the necessary targets for reducing emissions will be much worse," said Caroline Lucas today.
She added: "It is also extremely disappointing to see that even these unambitious targets include ‘cuts' from carbon offsetting. At this crucial stage, we need to see real commitment from developed countries to change their ways - to slashing their own emissions, rather than paying poorer countries to do the work for them.
"The EU leaders in Copenhagen know the science just as well as the negotiators from the poorer countries, which stand to be affected much sooner. They need to start acting like it. We are past the mid-point of talks now, and leaders must stop dragging their feet. "