NEWS FROM GLENIS WILLMOTT

The Climate Change Challenge    
                                              
I make no apology for returning to the subject of Climate Change.  The implications become daily more apparent and the consequences more pervasive. The EU is taking a lead globally on climate change and is showing how nations working together can really make a difference.  I am proud to have the chance to be part of that process.

EU leaders agreed last year to reduce carbon emissions across Europe by at least 20% by 2020 and a package of measures was announced by the Commission in January. We are now working on the details of that package in the Environment Committee.  This will be the main focus of our work for the remainder of this year. I hope that we can get agreement on all these issues from the European Parliament and Ministers well before the European elections in 2009.

The cornerstone of the EU's efforts in this field is the Emissions Trading Scheme - the first system of its kind in the world to try and limit the level of greenhouse gases that heavy industry can emit.   It encourages industry to reduce its emissions in the most cost effective way.   When one company has reduced its CO2 emissions below its target, they can then trade their excess quota for a profit to a company that finds it more difficult or costly to reduce its own emissions.

The current system covers about 45% of all CO2 emissions in the EU and MEPs have voted to include air transport in the scheme by 2011. 

This was a completely new concept when it was set up. We will be taking stock of what has worked and what hasn't and adapt it to ensure it works efficiently and really leads to significant reductions in CO2 emissions.

I said in a newsletter earlier this year that I was supporting the NUM in their campaign to promote clean coal technology.  The Environment Committee will be looking at Carbon Capture and Storage - a cutting-edge technology which reduces atmospheric emissions of carbon dioxide that result from various industrial processes by storing the carbon dioxide underground.  The Commission proposes to set up a number of pilot projects to test the technology and we will need to ensure these are safe both for the environment and the local population.

We are also tackling emissions from passenger cars.  I want to ensure a strong regime backed up by fines so that manufacturers have to comply with the new targets for the cars they make. Many of the Tories and Liberals do not agree and will be trying to water down the legislation.

And finally, the climate change package includes a target of 20% of Europe’s energy to be provided from renewable sources by 2020. This will involve a mix of fuels and will include sustainable biofuels.  Labour MEPs are very much aware of the concern about the effects of the biofuels boom, both in Europe and in the developing world and we will be trying to ensure that they do not cause a loss in biodiversity and water resources or social problems such as rising food prices and the displacement of people.

If you have any views or concerns about any of these issues I would be happy to hear from you. 

I want Europe to set an example for action on climate change that the rest of the world can follow. 

Best wishes

Glenis Willmott

Further information

Green Peace: Energy, Europe and The Global Order: Speech by Foreign Secretary David Miliband at the London School of Economics 7th May 2008

European Commission Climate Action pages

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Brussels Office Stagiaire

I am now inviting applications for the post of stagiaire (intern) to work in my office in the European Parliament in Brussels.  The post is for a period of 6 months, beginning in late August 2008.

This internship will give the successful applicant the opportunity to gain highly valuable work experience in the office of an active Labour MEP, and provide an insight into the internal operation of the EU in general and the European Parliament in particular.

For more details see Site Contents list to the left or contact my office on office@gleniswillmott.org.uk

Food colourings

I am pleased that the Environment and Public Health Committee has voted to remove harmful dyes from children’s soft drinks and sweets.

A British University study has shown that children who consume foods and drinks containing these ‘azodyes’ can become hyperactive. These artificial colours have the potential to affect all our children.

Some of these colours have already been banned in the USA and Russia yet in the UK and across Europe they are still being put into the squashes, lollies, sweets and fizzy drinks we give our children. Companies need to let parents know what is in their children’s food. If there is evidence that the effects of an additive might be harmful the European Commission and national governments should ban the substance immediately. We must protect our children.

3rd Annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day June 15, 2008

The abuse of older vulnerable adults by people they should be able to trust is a subject that is only now being spoken about openly.

The charity Action on Elder Abuse works closely with the UK Government and does extremely valuable work to protect older people. The charity will be co-ordinating events in the UK on World Elder Abuse day. 

I have asked the European Commission to tell me what steps are being taken across Europe to protect older people from abuse and whether it believes there is scope for more to be done in this field.

More information at www.elderabuse.org.uk

Contact Glenis

Glenis Willmott MEP
Harold Wilson House
23 Barratt Lane
Attenborough
Nottingham  NG9 6AD
 
Tel. 0115 922 9717
Fax. 0115 922 4439

office@gleniswillmott.org.uk
 
Glenis’s team
 
Paddy Casswell: Political Manager
Chris Poles: Brussels Researcher
Ted Willmott: Parliamentary Assistant
Maggie Hudson: Constituency Assistant
Elizabeth Udall: Media Officer
Kelly Tomlinson: Secretary
Alex Phillips: Stagiaire (Intern)