Poland to reject emission cuts
Poland is set to oppose new carbon emission cuts being considered by the European Union (EU). This is the second time within a year that the coal-dependant country has urged other EU nations to account for the economic dangers of toughening carbon emission targets.
Poland is set to oppose new carbon emission cuts being considered by the European Union (EU). This is the second time within a year that the coal-dependant country has urged other EU nations to account for the economic dangers of toughening carbon emission targets.
Currently, EU countries face the challenge of cutting carbon emissions by 20 percent by 2020, compared with emission levels in 1990. However, the EU Environment Ministers will today debate increasing this target to 25 percent.
However, this new target would actually mean 30 percent, when you factor in international carbon credits/offsetting, the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) told the BBC.
Denmark is leading the negotiation, with the backing of the UK. Though lowering emissions is hoped to curb climate change, Poland fears the costly consequences of new targets; namely, many of the nation’s coal-powered plants being converted or closed.
As a major coal producer and exporter, Poland is particularly opposed to increased emission cuts. The country currently relies on coal for 90 percent of its electricity supply and successfully blocked a previous EU attempt to amend carbon emission targets, last June.
“There is no point whatsoever in gambling with the European’s economy’s future, introducing policies that might put our industries in jeopardy versus our competititors,” Poland’s Environment Minister Marcin Korolec has said, as reported by the Financial Times.
Minister Korolec has also reportedly sent a letter to other EU Environment Ministers urging them to oppose the new targets. Already, the Czech Republic, Romania and one of the Baltic countries have pledged to back Poland, Gazeta Wyborrcza has reported.
However, the most cost-effective way of moving to a low-carbon economy is by achieving a 40 percent cut in carbon emissions by 2030, and a 25 percent cut by 2020, compared with 1990 emission levels, claims the European Commission’s ‘Roadmap for moving to a competitive low-carbon economy in 2050’.
“We strongly support the findings in the roadmap,” a DECC spokesman told the BBC. “It shows that the current target in 2020 is simply not cost-effective. Moving to a higher target will bring other benefits such as reducing our dependence on imported energy, stimulating jobs and growth in green sectors, and delivering health benefits from reduced pollution.”
Image: Wojsyl | Wikimedia