Lobby groups call for EU emissions target


Companies demand legally binding EU target


Two separate lobby groups, fea- turing some of Europe’s biggest companies, are calling on EU policymakers to adopt a legally- binding target to cut emissions by 30% by 2020.


Utilities, telecoms businesses and oil companies are demand- ing lawmakers take on a more stringent goal to tackle climate change during the next decade. The group of companies, includ- ing Vodafone, Tesco and Shell, is urging the European Parliament’s environment committee to agree on a proposal before the end of the


year that could push the European Commission to go for a 30% emissions cut on 1990 levels. Currently, the EU has agreed to cut emissions by just 20% by 2020. But


the committee’s 60


MEPs could pass a resolution to deepen the goal. “A vote in favour would pro- vide a clear signal to the European Council on where we need to be going,” said Sandrine Dixson- Decleve, director of the Prince of Wales’s EU Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change. A separate group, which includes six European utilities that participate in the EU’s emissions trading scheme (ETS) – Scottish


and Southern Energy, Eneco, Dong Energy, Public Power Corporation, Sorgenia Energy and Statkraft – is also demanding a tougher target across the conti- nent. Such a move could see the current ETS cap lowered to meet a 30% target.


Despite a number of govern- ments being in favour of it, the EU has so far only agreed to adopt a tougher stance on emissions if other regions make a similar com- mitment because some nations are worried that a bigger goal would prove too costly for industry. Analysis


published by the


European Commission in March showed that the EU ought to be


Cities closer to global standard


Common reporting approach expected by November


The world’s cities are working towards a global standard for accounting and reporting their greenhouse gas emissions. The C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40) has joined forces with ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability to develop a new standard that can be used across multiple platforms. It is thought that a common approach will help local govern- ments accelerate their emission reduction activities whilst meet- ing the needs of climate financing, national monitoring and reporting requirements.


The standard is expected to be released in time for next UN climate change summit taking place in Durban, South Africa in November. The standard will offer consistent and comparable city inventories, and help city lead- ers monitor their progress against emissions targets and implement climate action planning in their day-to-day operations.


“Cities of all sizes play an impor- tant role in combating the impact of climate change. Establishing a single global standard for report- ing greenhouse gas emissions will empower local governments to accelerate their actions and access funding for mitigation and adapta- tion projects,” said C40 chair and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.


“This will enable new efficien- cies and create a level playing field for comparing emissions across cities around the world.” Currently, there are a number of different standards available for local governments to measure and report emissions, and many have resorted to establishing their own methodologies.


“Accounting, reporting and managing local emissions are among the priority responsibilities of local governments,” said David Cadman, councillor of Vancouver and president of ICLEI.


The C40 group is working with the ICLEI to develop a new standard for multiple platforms


The partnership between C40 and ICLEI was announced at the recent C40 Cities Mayors Summit in Sao Paulo.


able to exceed its 20% target for 2020 by five percentage points if it delivers on energy efficiency com- mitments.


The issue will be discussed once again at a European Council meet- ing on 21 June. The Prince of Wales’s EU Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change is run by the University of Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership. The group includes Kingfisher, Deutsche Telekom, Johnson & Johnson, Skanska, Alstom, UTC, Skai, Nestlé, Vodafone, Philips, Renault- Nissan Alliance, Tesco and Shell, among others.


CHARITY CASE


The Government’s Energy Saving Trust is to become a social enterprise and will seek charitable status. According to the EST’s chief executive Philip Sellwood, the plan will see the incorporation of a new charitable parent com- pany together with a wholly owned trading subsidiary, while retaining the status in order to continue to manage government-funded activity. “Reduction in public sub- sidy has come as no surprise, which is why we have been planning for change,” said Sellwood. “Even after the reduction in funding, our revenue will still be 75% of previous levels. We are ide- ally placed to continue in our success of winning long-term contracts post 2012 when our grant funding ceases.” The announcement came in the wake of the EST being commissioned by the European Regional Development Fund to retro- fit South-west social housing.


@MAYDAYNETWORK, @EARTHSCAN, @LUKEAWALSH, @CLIMATEGROUP, @VOLANSJOHN, @MAKOWER, @JIMCRAIGUK, @CBI_CC, @ECOTRICITY... Sustainable Business | June 2011 | 7


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