Madam, - I fully support the objective of the European Union to guarantee that C02 emissions in Europe will be reduced by 20 per cent by 2020.
But we need international action at a global level if we are to arrest climate change.
I would like to see the forthcoming UN Conference on Climate Change, which begins in Bali on December 9th next, securing a commitment from other international partners, most notably from the United States, China and India, to match this EU commitment.
Unless all key players are actively involved in reducing C02 emissions, we will lose this battle and the ozone layer will deplete.
I would like also to see new political and administrative structures being put in place internationally, possibly under the auspices of the United Nations, so that all countries involved in arresting climate change can work together in a more co-ordinated manner on this very important issue.
The European Parliament is at present looking at each sector of our society to see what changes must be brought about so that the EU can fully guarantee that C02 emissions will be reduced to target.
As vice-president of the climate change committee in the European Parliament, I am confident that we will be in a position to publish shortly innovative recommendations setting out how specific CO2 reduction targets will be reached in Europe. - Yours, etc,
LIAM AYLWARD MEP,
Hugginstown,
Co Kilkenny.