Thursday

28th Mar 2024

Climate deal 'not enough', says environment commissioner

EU environment commissioner Stavros Dimas has said that the climate change deal agreed by member states on Friday is not enough and that individual citizens should also be more environmentally aware.

In an interview with German newspaper Berliner Zeitung, Mr Dimas said "every individual contributes to greenhouse gas emissions" so everyone should be doing their bit to fight global warming.

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  • Stavros Dimas - remains critical of Germany's climate change efforts (Photo: European Commission)

"If we use energy-saving light bulbs or turn off the stand-by mode for televisions, then we will not only lower emissions, but also save money."

Speaking about the environment summit last week, where EU leaders agreed a goal of a 20 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2020 and a binding target of renewable energy accounting for 20 percent of consumption by the same date, Mr Dimas told Germany's Spiegel, "what we have just agreed is not enough."

He also criticised the fact that the deal will allow member states with nuclear energy to use it to help reach the green goals.

"It is not a magic solution to all problems" he said adding that it remains unclear how to get rid of radioactive waste and that dismantling nuclear power plants is a big economic problem.

Autobahn speed limit?

Turning his attention specifically to Germany, with whom he has had a few bruising fights about climate change in recent months, Mr Dimas said there should be a lower speed limit set on the country's motorways.

"Oddly enough, only in Germany is that a controversial discussion," said the Greek official.

But Germany has dismissed his comments.

"Mr Dimas is disregarding all the facts" said the spokesperson for the transport ministry, according to Spiegel Online.

"Setting a 100 [km/per hour] on German motorways would only reduce CO2 emissions by 0.6 percent."

Environment minister Sigmar Gabriel said the speed limit suggestion "was beside the point" and would not make car manufacturers build more environmentally friendly cars.

Setting the scene for future fights

Mr Dimas also set the scene for future fights with the German car industry, just a few short weeks after he clashed with it over Brussels' plans to in the future make car makers produce cars that emit less carbon dioxide.

"I am asking myself where are German engineers with their great plans to bring vehicles to the highest levels of waste gas purification."

He warned the German car industry that it cannot expected compromises in the future after it managed, through heavy lobbying, to water down Mr Dimas' proposals on car emissions.

"That is no longer like it was previously because too many people know the fatal consequences."

But for many German politicians the fundamental question remains how to reconcile environment goals with economic goals.

"Suddenly only climate change is at the top of the agenda and work places in Germany don't matter," said Peter Struck, head of the government coalition-sharing Social Democrats.

"Our economic situation matters too," he said following the EU summit last week.

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