Wednesday 6 July 2011
The European Parliament has voted against increasing limits on greenhouse gas emissions from 20% to 30% by 2020 from 1990 levels. WWF say support for the amendments came from Conservative MEPs, with Martin Callanan, leader of the UK Conservative delegation ignoring UK Government policy in favour of a 30% emissions reduction target for the EU.
Keith Allott, Head of Climate Change at WWF-UK, said: "Despite the media spotlight on the UK Conservative MEPs, despite the questions in the House of Commons and despite even the Prime Minister's interventions, we are disappointed that so many Conservative MEPs failed to vote in line with their own party policy, let alone UK Government policy."
WWF say that the 30% target for 2020 would be the minimum required for Europe to contribute its fair share to reducing global emissions in line with a minimum 80% reduction by 2050.