NEW REPORT - EU CLIMATE POLICY IS NOT EFFECTIVE 

EurActiv, 4 July 2006 

HYPERLINK http://www.euractiv.com/en/energy/dutch-report-eu-climate-policy-effective/article-156533 http://www.euractiv.com/en/energy/dutch-report-eu-climate-policy-effective/article-156533

In Short: The EU's climate change policy is too focused on restricting CO2 emissions within its own borders and lacks a global dimension, according to a new advisory body to the Dutch government.

Brief News:

The report "Climate strategy - between ambition and realism" of the Scientific Council for Government Policy (WRR) was presented to the Dutch environment minister on 28 June 2006.

The report points to the weaknesses of the Dutch and European policies to fight global warming. The current policy "has not proved effective, either in the EU or globally", says the report. 

"Globally, the targets set by the Kyoto protocol are too limited, cover a very short period and apply only for a select group of developed countries which already have relatively CO2-efficient economies. The policy to date ... lacks a global long-term perspective".

The authors of the report have the following recommendations for the Dutch government:

* focus on easier to achieve adaptation (via cost-effective flood protection and good water management in the Netherlands);

* reduce emissions with existing technologies and concentrate on energy efficiency, CO2 sequestration and storage in combination with gasification technology, use biomass, curb deforestation and accelerate reforestation and reduce emissions of methane and N2O; [the report sees little potential for solar and wind power and says also nuclear can only make a limited and temporary contribution - "fossil fuels will continue to dominate the world energy supply until at least 2050"];

* work on effective global coordination via a "multicoloured flexibility" approach, combining an "array of initiatives" designed to meet the interests of the different countries involved.

The report also advises to set up a World Climate Organisation (WCO) with an executive body (Special Climate Council) under the umbrella of the UN's Climate Convention (UNFCCC).

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(2) CLIMATE STRATEGY: BETWEEN AMBITION AND REALISM

Dutch Scientific Council for Government Policy (WRR)

HYPERLINK http://www.wrr.nl/dsc?c=getobject&s=obj&!sessionid=1s3l54uZxzY@p1K38HdWziQ!2wD1FIo9vlsUlyp7M0aKBFhXOqKEXXlWdpD8XH5W&objectid=3624&!dsname=default&isapidir=/gvisapi/ http://www.wrr.nl/dsc?c=getobject&s=obj&!sessionid=1s3l54uZxzY@p1K38HdWziQ!2wD1FIo9vlsUlyp7M0aKBFhXOqKEXXlWdpD8XH5W&objectid=3624&!dsname=default&isapidir=/gvisapi/