Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2007-01-31-Speech-3-063"
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"en.20070131.16.3-063"2
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"Madam President, I am glad we are having this debate at the same time as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, whose conclusions we all look forward to, is being held in Paris. In this regard, Madam President, may I suggest that we invite Dr Pachauri, chairman of the panel, which comprises the world’s most eminent scientists dealing with this issue, to attend a public hearing in this Chamber. I met him briefly yesterday in Paris and I believe that his explanations and recommendations would be very useful in the battle ahead of us if we intend to help overcome this challenge to civilisation.
I now turn to the second piece of good news, namely the sharp increase in public awareness of these issues, including in the United States and emerging countries. This historic gamble has no chance of paying off unless that fundamental element is in place. One word of warning, however: I doubt whether the citizens would accept a Malthusian response to the problems we face. Leaving behind the preoccupation with economic productivity does not mean hampering social development. The fight against climate change will not be a smooth process.
What is the current state of play? I would personally say that we must send out a message to our citizens that is both lucid and stimulating, one that consists of one piece of bad news and two pieces of good news. The bad news is the current state of affairs. Around the world, the situation has become even worse over the past six years, and in the EU we have got off to a bad start in honouring our Kyoto commitments, which were woefully inadequate to start with. If we were to continue at this rate, we would do the planet intolerable damage not only for future generations but for our children’s generation, too. So much for the bad news, which certainly is bad.
I now turn to the first piece of good news: it is possible to reverse the trend.
Ladies and gentlemen, if the issue of climate change only interests you in front of the media, then I feel sorry for you …
… because just before, when the Council and the Commission were talking about it, I counted you, and there were no more than 50 Members in the Chamber. Please do not come just to vote without knowing the background. Come and take part in the debate, or at least show some respect for those who are speaking.
Having mentioned the bad news, here is the first piece of good news that we can announce to the citizens. It is possible to reverse the trend, but this would admittedly require something akin to a revolution. The objectives of reducing emissions are well known – a reduction of 50% around the world, and thus 75% in our countries, by 2050. To achieve this will entail not only substantial increases in clean energy sources but also a new relationship as regards energy efficiency, involving a massive upsurge in the development of railways and motorways of the sea, the implementation, as mentioned by other speakers, of ambitious anti-pollution standards on car manufacturers, in spite of the pressure from Mrs Merkel, the massive construction of energy-saving houses, training in the use of more fuel-efficient technologies, international trade based much more on cooperation than competition, massive long-term investment and the adoption of the notion of the common good, in other words a number of major setbacks for liberal globalisation."@en1
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"(Addressing Members who are talking and not listening to him)"1
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