12. januar 2010
WWF præsenterede i dag på et pressemøde i Madrid sit bud på, hvad EU bør satse på under det spanske formandskab. Klimaforandringer og biodiversitet er nøgleområder, hvis EU skal genoptage dets internationale lederskab efter det fejlslagne klimatopmøde i København.
Læs den engelske pressemeddelelse her:
WWF launches its environmental priorities for the Spanish EU Presidency in Brussels
Madrid, 12 January 2010- WWF presents the priorities of the environmental policy of the Spanish EU Presidency for the next six months in Brussels today, before members of the European Parliament and the media. According to the organization, after the failure of Copenhagen, the fight against climate change and the protection of biodiversity are two key issues of the EU approach to strive to recover its international leadership on this issue.
WWF launches its campaign to promote the environmental policies of the EU during the Spanish Presidency in Brussels today in an event organized for Euro deputies and journalists. Among the two most urgent and top priority objectives, the organization points out the importance of fighting against the increase of temperatures and restraining the loss of biological loss.
The organization states that a few weeks after the end of the Copenhagen Summit, it is important to redefine the strategy the EU must follow to recover its leadership and international credibility in the fight against climate change. Bearing this objective in mind, the Spanish Presidency must promote by 2020 a reduction of CO2 emissions by at least 30 per cent, and the goal of saving primary energy, by at least 20 per cent in absolute terms. In addition, a financial agreement of 35 billion Euros per year for developing countries should also be established by that date.
On the other hand, 2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity, a highly significant moment considering that the extinction rate of species is currently 1,000 times higher than the natural rate. In this context, the EU has not fulfilled the commitment made by the EU Heads of State to halt the loss of biodiversity by 2010. In the coming six months, a serious agreement shall be reached to stop the deterioration of the European biological richness.
In addition, WWF calls for a strong support to Natura 2000 and the declaration of the marine areas that must be included in this network. It also stresses that the creation of a specific financial Fund is crucial for its proper management.
In 2010, the EU also has its last chance to save its fisheries from collapse. The new European Common Policy (ECP) shall be applied, it shall last until 2012 and it will be a unique opportunity to change the direction of fishing. Spain, as a major European fishing power and key player in international fisheries, shall lead the change movement towards responsible fishing models.
Juan Carlos del Olmo, Secretary General of WWF Spain said: "If the EU wants to recover the international leadership lost in Copenhagen, it must increase unilaterally its CO2 reduction commitment". He further adds: "During the Spanish EU Presidency a serious agreement must be adopted to halt biodiversity loss, and this implies a profound change in the EU fishing and agricultural policies".