Trump tells Putin to end 'ridiculous war' in Ukraine or face new sanctions    Thousands evacuated as new fast-growing fire ignites near Los Angeles    With Safety at its Core, OMODA C5 forges a Shield of Quality    Hans Zimmer to reimagine Saudi national anthem and collaborate on future projects    Saudi House pavilion at WEF showcases Kingdom's key achievements and promising investment opportunities    Maximum fine of SR900 for using mobile phone while driving    Al-Jadaan at WEF: Saudi Arabia achieves $200 in investment returns for every dollar it spends    Convicted US Capitol rioter turns down Trump pardon    "Theeb Rent a Car" receives two awards for Best New Sustainability Practices and Most Distinguished Company in Social Responsibility from The Global Economics    US tech giants announce AI plan worth up to $500bn    Israel's military chief resigns over 7 October 2023 failures    Dangerous drug-resistant bacteria are spreading in Ukraine    France issues health warning as tons 'aphrodisiac honey' seized    Al Nassr secures hard-fought 3-1 victory over Al Khaleej in Saudi Pro League    Al Hilal signs young Brazilian talent Kaio César from Vitória Guimarães    Roberto Firmino's volley secures Al Ahli's 2-1 win over Al Ettifaq    Saudi Arabia introduces national policy to eliminate forced labor    Al Hilal solidifies Saudi Pro League lead with a 4-1 victory over Al Wahda    Princess Hessa bint Salman attends launch of fashion design exhibition in Riyadh Princess Noura Al-Faisal: Art of Heritage showcases Saudi identity with a modern vision    Weight-loss drugs may boost health in many ways    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



EU climate package could harm economy
Published in Saudi Press Agency on 19 - 01 - 2008


A row within the European Union's executive over
plans to strengthen the bloc's fight against global warming showed no
sign of cooling as the EU's top industry official warned that key
parts of the plan could harm Europe's economy, according to dpa.
"The de-industrialization of Europe is no solution to the world's
major environmental problems," EU Industry Commissioner Guenter
Verheugen told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa in an exclusive interview.
"If we force European businesses to produce their goods outside
the EU, they will do it under less stringent environmental
conditions, and pollution will rise. We would be exporting pollution
and importing unemployment," he said.
On Wednesday, the EU's executive, the European Commission, is set
to launch a long-awaited package of proposals for how the bloc should
meet its goal of reducing greenhouse-gas emissions to 20 per cent
below 1990 levels by 2020.
The proposals are expected to include a strengthening of the EU's
flagship emissions-trading scheme which would ultimately force major
industries to buy permits allowing them to emit carbon dioxide (CO2),
the gas most widely linked with global warming.
The aim of the policy is to encourage Europe's industries to
develop new, low-emissions technology - thus rendering them more
competitive and strengthening Europe's long-term economic prospects.
But Verheugen, who is charged with promoting the interests of
European industry, said that industries which use large amounts of
energy, such as the steel industry, are already "close to their
limits" and cannot reduce their emissions much further.
"If we bring energy-intensive industries into the new (auction)
system completely, the result is that costs would rise drastically
and we still wouldn't get a reduction of CO2," he said.
"For that reason it would be right to treat energy-intensive
industries as a special case. I think the solution would be to give
the energy-intensive industries free permits, taking into account the
need to reach the technically possible rise in energy efficiency," he
said.
Leaked drafts of the legislation include a plan to review the
situation on global markets in 2011, with an eye to giving energy-
intensive industries help against competition from less
environmentally-conscious economies if necessary, but Verheugen
warned that that would be too late.
"It must be decided now. We can't afford years of uncertainty," he
said.
And he warned that separate proposals to boost the consumption of
energy from renewable sources would "make energy more expensive" for
both industry and consumers.
But he praised the broad scope of the plans as "the beginning of a
new era" and "a great opportunity to show how we can finally overcome
the old opposition between environmental and economic policy."
In March, the EU's leaders agreed to a legally-binding goal of
reducing CO2 emissions to 20 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020 and
boosting their consumption of renewable energy to 20 per cent of
their total energy use.
However, member states have now begun arguing over how much of a
sacrifice each one should make to achieve those goals, with many
using leaked commission drafts to claim that they are being asked to
make an unfair contribution to the common effort.


Clic here to read the story from its source.