John Prescott, the UK Deputy Prime Minister, came before the House to outline Britain's plans to make the environment a priority of the British Presidency in the months ahead. He identified six major environmental issues for the British Presidency, namely transport and the environment, air pollution, biodiversity, fisheries, the impact of enlargement on the European Union and climate change. The production of greenhouse gases from countries in the early stages of industrialisation, such as China, can contribute as much, if not more, to air pollution than developed countries.
In fact, he pointed out, China would likely overtake the US as the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases over the next 20 to 30 years. The first task, he said, was to share out between EU Member States the 8 per cent reduction in greenhouse gases agreed at the Kyoto Summit.
Other planned initiatives were a campaign to encourage European cities to allow access for clean vehicles only, and to develop the environmental dimension of other policies, such as transport and agriculture.
"Climate change underlines the importance of the strategy for integrating environmental protection into all the Community's policies and activities," he said. Proposals are currently being drawn up along these lines and will be presented to the Council of Ministers at Cardiff in June.
There are to be two joint meetings of transport and environment ministers in the months ahead. A indication of the kind of progress that can be made was seen last month in the road transport agreement with Switzerland.
The Swiss will raise the limit on EU-based juggernauts using Swiss alpine roads as transit from 28 to 40 tonnes from January 1st, 2005; in exchange, a road charge will be introduced according to weights and distance travelled, but adjusted according to the environmental performance of the vehicle. The Swiss government is also preparing a package to encourage the transfer of freight from road to rail.
Mr Prescott's new approach was welcomed by MEPs. Environment Committee Chairman Ken Collins (UK, PES) emphasised the need for subsequent presidencies to keep up the pressure. On CO2 emissions, he warned that there was now a need to set specific limits for each Member State. Without them there was a danger that some countries would do little to implement the agreement.
MEPs welcomed the Kyoto agreement. There was, however, widespread support for the idea that Member States should reduce greenhouse gas emissions even further by both the years 2005 and 2010.
For example, they could set a target for the use of renewable energy sources of 15 per cent of energy demand by 2010. Reform of the CAP and the encouragement of less-intensive farming practices can also lead to a reduced impact on climate change. MEPs also want to see special EU help given to Central and Eastern European countries to help reduce pollution from heavy industries.
In addition, MEPs believe new, tough, binding legislation to reduce gas-guzzling cars should be introduced as from January 1st, 2005. All new petrol models should meet average fuel consumption levels of five litres per 100 kms, to be further reduced to three litres per 100 km on average by the year 2010.