The European Union (EU) is about to decide its response to global warming – the decision will affect all of us.
Europe has long stated its aim to limit global warming to 2°C above the pre-industrial average. If we allow temperatures to exceed this threshold, we face the prospect run-away and catastrophic climate change.
Scientists are already predicting an ice-free Arctic in summer months, possibly before the end of the current decade. In addition, warming would threaten around 1 billion people with problems of water scarcity, and would place as many as 30% of all plant and animal species at a high risk of extinction.
The decisions the EU is making will set the level of ambition for future international negotiations, where world leaders will come together to agree a long-term solution to climate change. No matter where we live, we all need Europe to show leadership in tackling climate change.
Let European leaders know that it’s time for them to lead
Developed countries like those in the EU have the greatest responsibility for emitting the climate-changing gasses which cause global warming as they began pumping carbon dioxide and other ‘greenhouse gasses’ much earlier than most other countries. In addition, as one of the world’s largest trading blocks, the EU remains responsible for high per capita emissions, and has huge influence on the emissions of other countries through international trade and investment.
Take action
The EU is currently debating laws which aim to cut emissions across Europe by 20% by 2020. The problem is that the proposed cuts are nowhere near sufficient to account for Europe’s responsibility in addressing climate change. If other developed countries followed this lead, we would not make the cuts we need globally.
Europe needs to commit to cut its emissions of greenhouse gasses at home by at least 30%, as well as providing help for poorer countries to cut their emissions by moving to low-carbon development.
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