Brussels (22 January, 2014): In response to the European Commission’s White Paper on the 2030 Climate and Energy Framework released today, the humanitarian and development organisation CARE International says it is gravely concerned about the proposals, which are insufficient to avert a climate crisis for the world’s poorest people. The EU must reduce its emissions far more rapidly than currently planned, CARE says.
Sven Harmeling, Climate Change Advocacy Coordinator at CARE International said: “Climate change is already hitting the world’s poorest people hardest, even though they have done the least to produce the greenhouse gas emissions that drive climate change. In recent months, CARE has responded to a number of extreme weather events including Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines which killed thousands of people, many of them women and children. As global temperatures rise, the future for the world’s poorest people looks increasingly bleak as development gains are eroded and poverty reduction efforts are reversed in many of the countries where CARE works.”
The European Commission’s White Paper proposes cuts of 40% to EU greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 (compared to 1990 levels) and increase of renewable energies to 27% by 2030. However, this proposal from the EU, as one of the world's biggest economies and largest emitters, falls far short of what is needed to tackle the growing climate crisis. CARE is calling for far more ambitious emissions cuts of at least 55% within the EU by 2030 (compared to 1990 levels), in addition to more rapid emissions reductions in the years leading up to 2020. CARE also supports demands for binding EU and national targets to expand the use of sustainable renewable energy and for reductions of energy consumption to help promote low-emission development; critical if future greenhouse gas emissions are to be avoided. The proposed renewables target is only binding at the EU level, concrete proposals for reducing energy consumption have been postponed.
Sven Harmeling said: “The Commission’s proposal ignores the severity of the most recent warnings from scientists about the increasing scale and pace of climate change and the need to keep global warming to below 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels. It flies in the face of what progressive business, civil society and concerned citizens are asking for and fails to recognise the many positive global and domestic benefits of strong climate action.“
Sven Harmeling concludes: “If the EU does not deliver its fair share of emissions reductions through the 2030 climate and energy package and live up to its responsibilities, it will be condoning the devastation of millions of livelihoods and increasing poverty for the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people. The EU is also sending the wrong signal to high-emitting developing countries that are unlikely to agree to the required drastic emissions reductions commitments in any new global climate treaty if the EU fails to do so. We call on European governments and parliamentarians to improve their plans so that the EU can lead by example and step up its climate action from now until 2030. There is not a moment to lose.“
For further information or to arrange an interview with Sven Harmeling, contact Jo Barrett, Press and Communications Coordinator, Poverty, Environment and Climate Change Network on +44 (0)7940 703911 or [email protected].
About CARE: CARE is a leading humanitarian organisation fighting global poverty and providing lifesaving assistance in emergencies. In 84 countries around the world, CARE places special focus on working alongside poor girls and women because, equipped with the proper resources, they have the power to help lift whole families and entire communities out of poverty. To find out more, visit www.care-international.org or www.careclimatechange.org