Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-04-01-Speech-4-205"
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"en.20040401.5.4-205"2
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"Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, I was present at the meeting in Johannesburg. I both experienced and shared the disappointment that the EU delegation, above all, felt about the fact that we did not get further with the establishing a global objective for renewable energy. We turned the meeting to as best account as we could achieve at the time. I myself have taken a very active interest in bringing together those who wish to work with clear goals and dates in the matter of how to achieve a greater proportion of renewable energy.
The impending meeting in Bonn will, of course, be of great significance. Above all, we will be able to share experience and knowledge there on how we can best support the development of renewable energy by political means. During today’s debate we have heard some of the best arguments for why this is necessary, including the argument regarding climate change. Mr Turmes listed all our convincing arguments in favour of the need to invest in renewable energy. We have discussed some of the most important tools. I am the first to admit that, by explaining in Bonn that we are prepared to think slightly more long term, that is to say up to 2020, and that we wish to set such a goal, we should be sending out an important signal. In the enlarged European Union, we will, however, need a little more time to discuss in more detail how this goal should be established and at what level it should be set.
I wish to state that there is a misunderstanding among some of the Members regarding the current situation relating to the Kyoto Protocol. The situation is not as a number of people think, that is that we have a complete stalemate. All the countries that have now ratified the Kyoto Protocol are in fact doing very important and practical work to implement the Protocol. This is because most of these countries, particularly the poor ones, are already affected by climate change. They realise that the effects of climate change will only get worse if they do not deal with the problem now. Important work has therefore already been got under way. We are not alone in taking action. All over the world, people have begun to realise that the threat of climate change is so great that we need to take action right away.
The assertion that renewable energy could become more expensive is wrong. On the contrary, it will become cheaper. Think of the development regarding fossil fuels. We have seen just recently how expensive oil has become. It will become more profitable to invest in renewable energy. This is especially true if we also take the fossil fuel subsidies out of the equation.
We should also be completely clear about the fact that the market for renewable energy already represents great economic value. It is European companies that are today responsible for 90% of the world market in equipment. We are very competitive, a fact that has created thousands of jobs in Europe. This development will continue. Wind energy alone has increased from 5GW (gigawatts) in 1997 to 27GW in 2003. Huge development is taking place in this sector. It is not at all the case that this area is standing still, or that not enough is happening. An enormous amount is happening, and the potential is fantastic. We must make use of these facts as arguments during our meeting in Bonn. We must make sure that, in the future too, we are world leaders in the area of renewable energy. This is something from which we shall all gain."@en1
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