European Initiative

Summary :

Will Hutton, in How Europe can save the world, The Observer 11.03.07 ,says that
The European Union has reach a deal on handling climate change and energy security .
The 27 nation EU has bound itself to lower its carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent by 2020 from their 1990 level ; that goal can be done by using renewable energy sources like water , air, tidal power and biofuels . France is dependent on clean nuclear power .Nuclear power ,clean coal and renewables are responses to stop the European countries’ dependence on Middle Eastern oil and Russian gas .
New limits for carbon emissions are set in the EU. After 2010, every new power station in Europe will have to have ‘carbon capture and storage technology’ ,and this will stop or at least reduce the carbon emissions .

Main idea :

Will Hutton , a committed pro-European ,says that Europe has taken the lead in the battle to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and he commends European politicians for this . He is hoping that their efforts will prove successful because he believes there is a growing worldwide awareness of the need for government action to prohibit climate change .

Comment :

I do believe that reduction of carbon emissions is very important ,but there are problems .Renewable energy is expensive and itself provides environmental problems . European business will complain being suffering higher energy costs than American ,Chinese and Indian competitors .
No one country could achieve alone .It needs to be stronger on targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and it needs to include the Indians ,Chinese and Americans .