NEWS FROM GLENIS WILLMOTT

Super Tuesday for climate change  
             
On Tuesday 7th October the Environment Committee of the European Parliament decisively endorsed an ambitious package of new climate change measures, to ensure that the EU target of a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 is met. 

We voted to beef up the EU's emissions trading system (ETS). Polluting industries will now have to buy some of their carbon allowances.  We want the money generated to go back to member states to help protect energy customers against rising prices and to fight fuel poverty - and also to developing countries to help them tackle climate change. The committee voted to increase the number of small businesses that can opt out of the system and also to exempt hospitals from the scheme.

We pushed through tough emissions limits on new power stations and legislation to set up new carbon capture projects, funded from the ETS. MEPs on the Committee were not intimidated by heavy lobbying from the car industry and, in an earlier vote, agreed to a 60% cut in CO2 emissions for new cars from 2020.

We are also moving to ensure that fuel efficiency and environmental costs are factored into contracts, when local authorities and public transport operators buy new vehicles.

I really feel that we are making positive progress, despite wobbles from some member states at the recent EU summit. I am delighted that Gordon Brown has now appointed Ed Miliband as Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change.  This will really focus our work.

Tackling Climate Change could bring huge job opportunities with it. Up to 160,000 jobs could be created in the UK over the next 12 years due to the renewable energy target. The 20% target will be increased to 30% if there is international agreement.  We must hope that we can get the new US President on board and get real cuts in emissions throughout the world.

Best wishes

Glenis Willmott

Glenis interviewed on the climate change package:  http://www.itvlocal.com/myeurope/?void=246810

More on the EU and Climate Change

A safer internet for children

Children aged between twelve and fifteen spend at least three hours a day using the internet. We need to ensure they are protected from the dangers of illegal content and harmful conduct online.

This week in Strasbourg we will be voting on proposals to introduce a new Safer Internet programme. The new programme will build on the success of the current programme by extending its scope to ensure better protection for children from grooming and bullying. It will combat illegal content, promote a safer online environment, raise public awareness and establish a knowledge base for research purposes.

The new programme will focus on practical help for internet users, including information exchange between Member States, providing information packs for parents, carers and teachers, and setting up a common "child-safe" label for web pages.

And meanwhile in a galaxy far, far away… Bill Newton Dunn, Lib Dem MEP for the East Midlands, has hosted a seminar in the European Parliament entitled:
”Does life exist on other worlds? Why have we not heard from them?”…

 
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
Phillippa Garner: Stagiaire (Intern)