International

Lower emissions of greenhouse gases - a reduction of 20% by 2020 – will be achieved by means of limits imposed on sectors such as mining and energy generation, and a range of industries. These sectors will be given emission rights, a fraction of which will be traded by auction. The European Commission has proposed making the application of this system subject to stricter rules than is currently the case. The SP wants to see a more ambitious goal: a 40% reduction.

The SP also wants to see 100% of the distributed emission rights auctioned for all sectors and the EU using the proceeds to finance measures to combat climate change. SP Euro-MP Kartika Liotard, a member of the European Parliament's Committee on the Environment, said that "Only if we are more ambitious will we be able to tackle the effects of climate change. We can't afford to wait any longer."The European Parliament will debate the issue next Tuesday, 16th December, when it considers a package of measures relating to climate change and energy.