Advertisement

Greenpeace calls Europe to climate task

EU climate goals weak, advocacy group says.

By Daniel J. Graeber

LONDON, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- Greenpeace said it was calling European leaders to task as Asian and American economies show signs of momentum ahead of climate talks in New York.

A draft report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change finds emissions are falling in most Western countries because of an increased use of low-carbon energy resources and improvements in energy efficiency. The rising industrialization of Asian economies, however, means the driving factors behind changing weather patterns could be escalating.

Advertisement

For Greenpeace, it said it saw neutrality in major economies. Coal use in China, it said, was slowing down and trends in the United States have lead to an "absolute emissions decline."

More coal from the United States is making its way to Europe because of the glut of North American natural gas.

Greenpeace said it's frustrated with the lack of climate leadership from Europe, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel saying she may skip climate talks in New York. British Prime Minister David Cameron, the advocacy group said, hasn't confirmed a trip.

"Is it because the weak 2030 climate targets the European Union is about to agree on in October embarrass them?" the group said.

Advertisement

The European Union aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions and increase the share of renewable energy on the grid by 20 percent of from a 1990 benchmark by 2020. The targets for 2030 were criticized for lacking ambition.

Latest Headlines