Allister challenges EU policy on CO2 emissions
27 September 2006
Euro MP Jim Allister, during Question Time in the Eurpoean Parliament, challenged the Energy Commissioner on the validity and effect of the EU's CO2 Emission policy. Under the policy CO2 emissions are restricted by a strict national quota system, which is fair enough, says Mr Allister, if by our trade arrangements with high polluters like China we were not facilitating unrestricted emissions elsewhere.
Mr Allister put it to the Commissioner in this way:-
"Can the Commissioner comment on the validity and logic of a policy that compels Member States to radically reduce emissions with resulting increases in EU energy prices and lower manufacturing output while, at the same time, we promote trade with and production in China, the world’s greatest polluter, with no enforceable requirements for the suppression of emissions from them. I do not object to trade with China, but I do object to the lack of compulsion upon them to reduce their emissions.
In effect, are we not really trading jobs and low emissions in Europe, for higher emissions and output in Asia?"
In his response the Commissioner conceded less was expected from China and India because historically they had not high industrial or emissions output. Commenting on this excuse for soft-pedalling the EU's demands on emissions from China, Mr Allister said, "This is a nonsensical stance. We should be addressing damaging emissions in the here and now and not permitting them because of an historical deficit in damage caused by the polluter. High CO2 emissions now from China are doing damage and so should be addressed now."
