Europeans worry but do little about climate changeRENATA GOLDIROVA
EU Observer
September 12, 2008 - Today @ 09:14 CET
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - An overwhelming majority of Europeans - 62 percent - consider climate change the second most serious problem facing the world today, a fresh EU poll has shown. However, they have little appetite for turning green when it comes to their lifestyle.
[THIS IS NOT CHANGE, BUT MORE OF THE SAME!]
"There is a clear gap between what citizens say and what citizens are doing about fighting climate change," EU environment commissioner Stavros Dimas said on Thursday (11 September), while presenting the survey.
Arctic ice: Europeans worry about global warming but do little beyond sorting waste for recycling.
Although 61 percent of Europeans say they are taking some kind of action against climate change, it is limited to minor personal or financial effort such as separating waste for recycling and reducing consumption of energy, water or throw-away products.
Mr Dimas cited two main reasons for the inactivity - a lack of information about the causes and consequences of climate change and a lack of decisiveness on the side of public and private sectors.
[ISN'T THE 'EU INSPIRED, IDEALIST U.S. BLUE PARTY GUILTY OF MORE OF 'THE SAME'??]Four in ten Europeans feel poorly informed about the subject, with the commissioner describing the level as "disappointing." They also expect governments, companies and industries to lead by example and change their behaviour.
In total, some 60 percent of people believe global warming is not an unstoppable phenomenon and can be changed.
Cypriots most concerned; Czechs least
The survey was carried out in all 27 EU states as well as in Croatia, Turkey, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and in the Turkish Cypriot community. In total, it involved 30,170 people and cost €240,000.
Only the issue of poverty (68%) scores higher than climate change (62%) in citizens' minds as to which is the most serious global problem.
"It seems that European citizens are very interested about what's happening in the world, maybe they are little less selfish than we might have imagined if they give these problems such a high level of importance," said Italian Socialist Guido Sacconi, the chair of the European Parliament temporary committee on climate change.
Broken down by countries, Cypriots (96%), Greeks (90%) and Slovenians (80%) have shown the greatest concern about global warming. Citizens of the Czech Republic (45%), Portugal (47%) and Italy (47%) are on the bottom of the same chart.
In the Czech Republic, the most visible critic of the climate change discourse is the country's own president, Vaclav Klaus. He has repeatedly questioned the general belief that climate change is man-made and the value of the tools used to combat it.
"A few years ago, more people thought that it [global warming] was not caused by human activity, now almost everybody and the majority of scientists believe it is anthropogenic," commissioner Dimas told journalists, adding: "even [US] President Bush has come to accept it."
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Two New Ads: 'Real Change' and 'Still'
By Sam Graham-Felsen -
Sep 12th, 2008 at 9:38 am EDT
Today, the Obama campaign released two new 30-second TV ads, Real Change, which details what "change" is to Senator Obama and Still which details why John McCain would just be another out of touch president offering more of the same.
Watch Real Change...
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June 5, 2008 FIRST TRANSATLANTIC GREEN PLATFORM
Only a comprehensive approach encompassing public policy, financing of R&D and innovation, and market adoption from major large corporations will lead to a green revolution. The Transatlantic Green Platform is committed to foster such an approach by generating concrete business deals, investments, partnerships and specific policy proposals between around 200 key European and US Green Tech players.
The first Transatlantic Green Platform: for connecting US and European key players provided a unique opportunity to explore some of the new mega trends in Green Tech and to create a high-level forum of innovative companies, experts, investors and policy makers.
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US - Europe, a Strategic Alliance for Green Technologies
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of CaliforniaWe lead the nation in information technology, in nanotechnology, in medical technology, in biotechnology. We generate one of every four U.S. patents. We attract almost half of all U.S. venture capital. According to The Economist magazine, California is also home to three of the top six universities in the world. In addition to all of this, California is the seventh largest economy in the world.
I do not mention these things simply to boast. I mention them because when California does something, it has consequences. And here is what we are doing. California is mobilizing — technologically, financially and politically — to fight global climate change. Now, we are not alone. While California is leading in the U.S., we are building on the work of the European countries who have led the way up to now. England has already met its Kyoto goals. Germany has pioneered solar. The EU has led with its trading system.
[THE GOVERNATOR SHOULD CHECK HIS FACTS WITH THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION. THIS ONLY PROVES THE POINT ABOVE: IT ISN'T CHANGE, BUT MORE OF THE SAME!]
But California, because of its unique position, is on the cutting edge of what is to come. What we’re doing is changing the dynamic, preparing the way and encouraging the future.
[DEAR GOVERNOR, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FACILITATING MARKETS and CREATING MARKETS. WHICH HAS CALIFORNIA EMBARKED ON??]
The aerospace industry built the modern economy of Southern California. The computer industry and the Internet built the economy of Silicon Valley. And now green, clean technology — along with biotech — will take California to the next level. Right now, in California, the brightest scientists from around the world and the smartest venture capitalists are racing to find new energy technologies. It’s a race fueled by billions of dollars. Last year alone, California received more than $1.1 billion in clean tech investment. This amount is expected to grow 20-30% a year for a decade. More venture capital is being invested in clean tech than in telecommunications. I have been in the labs and research parks. I have talked to the scientists and venture capitalists.
[THIS IS THE WAY IT SHOULD BE - LED BY THE MARKETS, & NOT BY THE CALIFORNIA STATE GOVERNMENT!]
My question today is this: are the nations of the world ready to change? I believe California will do great things, amazing things. But we need the world to do great things, too”.
United Nations speech
[OUR QUESTION FOR THE GOVERNATOR IS: IS THIS 'REAL' CHANGE or MORE OF THE SAME??]
José Manuel Durão Barroso, President of the European CommissionThe vision was set out last year with leadership from the European political community. It was consolidated by European leadership at the Bali Conference. Now we will show how a modern economy can be designed to meet the challenge. This is [GREEN-CENTRIC] sustainable development in action. Today’s package adds up to a detailed roadmap to bring about the political vision [IDEALISM] agreed last year. To bring about a 20% cut in our greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, and be ready to step up to 30% with an international agreement. To reach 20% of energy use through renewables by 2020.
[WE STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION CHECK WITH HIS SUBORDINATES CONCERNING THE ABILITY TO DELIVER ON THESE IDEALS & PROMISES.]
The package includes:
An updated Emissions Trading System to create a borderless ETS to drive cuts in greenhouse
gas emissions from big industrial emitters. Specific, binding national targets so that member
States know exactly what they have to do outside the ETS, in sectors like transport, buildings,
agriculture and waste. A new approach to actively promote renewable targets, again including binding national targets. New rules to stimulate carbon capture and storage, tomorrow’s technology to cut emissions. New state aid rules. Part of our mandate was the 10% target for biofuels, so that transport plays a part in emissions cuts. I want to be clear that in putting forward proposals on biofuels, we have also fully respected the other side of the mandate, the need for environmental sustainability. So the proposal creates the most comprehensive and sustainable system anywhere in the world for the certification of biofuels — and for domestic and imported biofuels alike. We will also continue to promote the rapid development of second generation biofuels.
gas emissions from big industrial emitters. Specific, binding national targets so that member
States know exactly what they have to do outside the ETS, in sectors like transport, buildings,
agriculture and waste. A new approach to actively promote renewable targets, again including binding national targets. New rules to stimulate carbon capture and storage, tomorrow’s technology to cut emissions. New state aid rules. Part of our mandate was the 10% target for biofuels, so that transport plays a part in emissions cuts. I want to be clear that in putting forward proposals on biofuels, we have also fully respected the other side of the mandate, the need for environmental sustainability. So the proposal creates the most comprehensive and sustainable system anywhere in the world for the certification of biofuels — and for domestic and imported biofuels alike. We will also continue to promote the rapid development of second generation biofuels.
The key principles
The package of measures proposed today is the most far-reaching legislative proposals to be made by the European Commission for many years. How did we set about shaping this complex package? We spent a lot of time exploring options in great detail. But we always held firm to five key principles. But we must not forget the huge economic opportunity represented by Europe’s transition into a low-emissions economy.
Europe’s leadership also means showing how the technology is there, how we will need an
effective and competitive industrial sector up to the challenge. There are real opportunities
there: the renewables sector alone will bring one million jobs by 2020. I am sure that once again, European industry will show its ability to innovate and adapt. Europe can be the first economy for the low-carbon age: we must seize this chance”.
European Parliament speech
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