Calling for a multilateral political approach to climate change during the debate on the upcoming climate change talks in Bali*, GUE/NGL Italian MEP and Vice-President of the European Parliament's Climate Change committee, Roberto Musacchio emphasised the role of the UN and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in formulating future strategies to tackle global warming.
"Looking to the future, however uncertain it is, we must take the environmental aspect of development into account and boost the search for innovative solutions. In terms of emissions, there are severe inequalities of levels of CO2 emission levels, all should be reduced but these reductions must be carried out and enforced in a fair and proportional way" said Musacchio.
Also speaking on the preparations for the Bali conference, Greek GUE/NGL MEP Dimitrios Papadimoulis said that the establishment of an ambitious framework for the post-2012 period must be the overarching priority for the talks.
"The scientific findings of experts do not leave much margin for postponements and useless talking. It's now official that climate change is caused by human activity. This fact should form the basis for the upcoming negotiations. The benefits of strong early action on climate change far outweigh the economic costs of action" he said.
Swedish GUE/NGL MEP Jens Holm said that the upcoming Bali conference, in deciding how to tackle global warming after 2012 when the Kyoto agreement expires, should be reminded that rich western countries are responsible for climate change and therefore must take the lead in radically reducing emissions.
"Ideally, I would like to see an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, strong rules for the meat industry, which is responsible for almost a fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions, more flexible patent laws in order to facilitate the spreading of green technology, and a certification system for biomass fuel in order to ensure that it is not in conflict with food supply maintenance and the retention of the world's forests" Holm said.
*Delegates from 180 countries will meet on the Indonesian island of Bali next month to negotiate climate change after the Kyoto accord expires in 2012.
