Monthly Archives: May 2010

So EC climate commissioner Connie Hedegaard today finally published a paper backing away from a proposal that Europe commit itself to a 30% reduction in emissions by 2020 (despite rumours to the contary on the front page of The Times, subsequently taken to task by George Monbiot!).

The economic slump since 2008 means that the existing 20% target now looks a lot easier and cheaper to achieve. The financial crisis also took the steam out of the EU ETS carbon market. With Greece in fiscal meltdown and austerity measures under way in Spain, Portugal and now the UK, Europe may well see a serious double dip recession, making even a 30% target much less scary than it seems. A shift up to 30% would also have resuscitated the carbon market. But of course there has been resistance, not least from Germany and eastern Europe, but also the Confederation of British Industry here in the UK. All of this is a reminder of how politically difficult a direct target-led approach is.

On the face of it, this looks like a real blow for those who think Europe should try to rescue its global climate leadership in the wake of the Copehagen fiasco. However, Continue reading →

Hi all – we went away for a little while there, due to various pressures at work and home. But expect to see postings much more frequently on Political Climate from now on. Coming up:

• The limits to environmentalism Part 3 – we review Tim Jackson’s Prosperity without Growth
• A Tale of Two Milibands
• Why we need a low-carbon version of fair trade
• The case for more public borrowing (are these guys crazy!?) for low carbon investments

We’ll also start looking more seriously at what the new coalition government is going to do. Later today we’ll blog on the will-they-won’t-they story of the European 30% emissions reduction target.