European Commission's climate change proposals present an opportunity not a threat

2.30.28pm GMT Wed 23rd Jan 2008

The European Commission has outlined in detail how EU Member States can reach their targets set at a summit in March 2007. At the summit, in Germany in 2007, EU leaders agreed to reduce CO2 emissions to at least 20 per cent below 1990 levels and to have renewable sources account for 20 per cent of energy production by 2020.

Commenting on the Commission's announcements, local Liberal Democrat Euro MP, Diana Wallis, said:

"Meeting the challenge of global warming will be tough but we must see this as an opportunity and not a threat. Moving towards a low carbon economy will promote innovation, drive forward investment and create jobs as is already happening in places like Germany and Spain."