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17.October 2008 - 00:00
Letter to “The Times” 17th October 2008
Letter to “The Times” 17th October 2008.
Sir,
I read with interest your headline article "EU climate change push in disarray as Italy joins Iron Curtain revolt" (Friday 17th October). As an MEP working on Climate issues for almost a decade, I can assure Prime Ministers Berlusconi and Tusk that, under my tabled amendments (Korhola-Florenz package) to the Commission's Draft Directive for a revised Emission Trading Scheme, the financial health of EU industry would not be threatened at all. In fact, quite the contrary in the longer term. Few will argue that regardless of the current financial crisis, the world faces a much larger threat from climate change and whatever the man-made influence is on that, we have an imperative to cut harmful emissions. My proposal, largely supported by the centre right European People's Party (European Parliament's largest political Group) and endorsed by both Business Europe (the EU’s Employers’ Federation) and some large Trade Union Groups including the Unions umbrella organisation (DGB), is not to charge all the industries for their Emission Permits. Instead they would be given them free so long as they reduce their emissions and energy intensity by adopting 'Best Available Technology" – (BAT). With such a benchmarking approach, as emissions get reduced, the cleanest operating companies can sell the no-longer-required permits in the emission trading market thus offsetting the cost of adopting BAT. Later as the rest of the world catches up with the laudable EU lead in the fight against climate change by installing similar schemes, our own companies will be ahead of the game whilst remaining globally competitive. Sadly, the European parliamentary process is not being completed as the French Presidency of the Council has demanded a political agreement for Christmas. If it were to be completed, and with the support of those EU Member States with concerns on the cost, I am confident that my multi-signed amendments can be considered by the whole of the Parliament and will be adopted as the pragmatic way forward balancing climate and employment needs alike.
Yours sincerely,
Eija-Riitta Korhola, MEP
Letter to “The Times” 17th October 2008.
Sir,
I read with interest your headline article "EU climate change push in disarray as Italy joins Iron Curtain revolt" (Friday 17th October). As an MEP working on Climate issues for almost a decade, I can assure Prime Ministers Berlusconi and Tusk that, under my tabled amendments (Korhola-Florenz package) to the Commission's Draft Directive for a revised Emission Trading Scheme, the financial health of EU industry would not be threatened at all. In fact, quite the contrary in the longer term. Few will argue that regardless of the current financial crisis, the world faces a much larger threat from climate change and whatever the man-made influence is on that, we have an imperative to cut harmful emissions. My proposal, largely supported by the centre right European People's Party (European Parliament's largest political Group) and endorsed by both Business Europe (the EU’s Employers’ Federation) and some large Trade Union Groups including the Unions umbrella organisation (DGB), is not to charge all the industries for their Emission Permits. Instead they would be given them free so long as they reduce their emissions and energy intensity by adopting 'Best Available Technology" – (BAT). With such a benchmarking approach, as emissions get reduced, the cleanest operating companies can sell the no-longer-required permits in the emission trading market thus offsetting the cost of adopting BAT. Later as the rest of the world catches up with the laudable EU lead in the fight against climate change by installing similar schemes, our own companies will be ahead of the game whilst remaining globally competitive. Sadly, the European parliamentary process is not being completed as the French Presidency of the Council has demanded a political agreement for Christmas. If it were to be completed, and with the support of those EU Member States with concerns on the cost, I am confident that my multi-signed amendments can be considered by the whole of the Parliament and will be adopted as the pragmatic way forward balancing climate and employment needs alike.
Yours sincerely,
Eija-Riitta Korhola, MEP