Thursday, 7th May 2009
Scots Tory MEP launches Intergroup manifesto to drive battle against climate change
Today (Thursday 7th May 2009), Scots Tory MEP, Struan Stevenson, launched the Climate Change and Biodiversity Intergroup manifesto calling for MEPs to join the forum aimed at debating and generating policy geared towards sustainable development.
In an email to all 785 MEPs in the European Parliament, Mr Stevenson, the President of the Intergroup, called for the need of a cross-sectoral political platform to lead the integration of sustainable development in the legislative activity of the European Parliament.
The manifesto outlines the Group’s proposed approach to meeting the European Parliament’s Climate and Energy Package targets by 2020. The Group aims to achieve this by developing a sustainable low carbon society that addresses climate change and takes into consideration biodiversity and ecosystem service as an underlying foundation of socio-economic development and human welfare.
To achieve these goals, the group aims to ensure a sustainable management of marine resources by focusing on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) on biological, social and economical sustainability; build a sustainable vision for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) after 2013; and look at means significantly to reduce greenhouse gases without damaging ecosystems. In addition, the Intergroup recognises the intrinsic biodiversity value of forests in the EU Forestry and Climate Change strategy and the need to consider climate change and biodiversity issues from a perspective of rights and equality.
Speaking ahead of the manifesto launch, Mr Stevenson said:
“Climate change and biodiversity are high on the political agenda across the world and the EU has the opportunity to lead the way in reducing our carbon footprint.
“The role of the Member States of the EU and its elected Euro-MPs will be instrumental in achieving the European Parliament’s Climate and Energy Package targets by 2020. By launching the manifesto today, we hope to encourage MEPs to join the Intergroup to help in the fight towards sustainable development.
“As President of the Intergroup of Climate Change and Biodiversity, I believe that although climate change targets are commendable, the long-term effects must be considered. For example, careful thought must be given before we rush into a policy of expanding biofuel production to determine its impact on the environment and the consequences for developing nations.
He continued:
“Likewise, the issue of food scarcity is a reality that needs to be urgently addressed. Despite an expanding world population, millions of hectares of agricultural land are being lost to food production annually, due to climate change, expanding deserts and the production of biofuels. By 2030 the world population will have grown to such an extent that we will need a 50 percent increase in food production to meet anticipated demand.”
Established in 1994 with the support of the IUCN – the International Union for Conservation of Nature – the cross party Intergroup of Sustainable Development of the European Parliament has provided for the past 15 years, a forum for MEPs to learn, debate and create policy geared towards sustainable development.
It was renamed on 11 February 2009 as the European Parliament Intergroup on Climate Change and Biodiversity to provide it with an even stronger focus on the two most fundamental environmental if not societal challenges of the decade.
