Britain and EU Strengthen Stance Against US Over Kyoto Treaty
As PM Tony Blair takes the chair at both the EU and the G8 group of industrial nations in 2005, the British Government is signaling it will take a tougher stance against the Bush administration's reluctance to conform to the Kyoto treaty.
It is however an act of irony that the British Government itself is admitting that it too will miss a number of it targets set for 2010. Targets such as cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 20% (Kyoto requires a 12.5% cut) and to have 10% of the UK's energy sourced from renewable sources.
In efforts to achive the carbon dioxide cuts the British Government they increased the tax rate on fuel (ULP in the UK is around 0.839p per litre or $4.20 for a US size gallon) this is something unpopular in the UK and Europe where prices are similar at 1.09 for a litre in Austria and Italy. Also it's well known that aircraft cause huge amounts of pollution when flying at high altitudes and as yet aviation fuel is left untaxed.
In answer to questions about aircraft pollution he admitted he personally favours a pan-European, preferably, a global tax to tackle a fast-growing problem.
That is no more likely to appeal to the US aviation lobby than Lord Whitty's confirmation that Mr Blair's chairmanship will press for the start of an EU emissions trading scheme and tackle EU aviation emissions.
Lord Whitty had praise for the US in its efforts in research but stated that "research and development is not a substitute for taking concerted action to reduce emissions now. We know enough about climate change to know that if we do not act now, we will need to make more drastic changes later."
Mr Blair wants climate change and Africa to be the main themes of his international roles in the G8 and EU next year.
Comments
hoisin
United Kingdom
April 2004
AUG 24, 2004 11:06 AM