Andrew Duff: 'Only Green Tax Switch And Better Science Can Deliver European Union Goals On Climate Change'
March 11, 2007 12:00 PM
Speaking after last week's important meeting of the European Council, the Leader of the UK Liberal Democrat MEPs Andrew Duff has reinforced his party's policy of switching the burden of taxation away from people and on to pollution. In a statement from the European Parliament in Strasbourg today, Duff said:
"The European Council has taken some bold and difficult decisions on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. By 2020 the EU is committed to reducing carbon pollution by 20% compared to 1990; and if agreement can be reached with the world's other big polluters (US, China, India and Brazil) this target will rise to 30%. The EU has also agreed to a binding target of 20% renewable energy by 2020. This makes the EU the world leader in building a sustainable, energy-efficient economy.
"However, in order to achieve these goals, all member states must adopt similar environmental friendly tax regimes. The Liberal Democrats have been first in Britain to make the green tax switch. We are the only British party to recognise the importance of collective fiscal action at the EU level to ensure that cross-border activity, including aviation, pays its share of the burden in combating climate change."
Andrew Duff added:
"Beyond taxation, science and technology must play a big part in reaching the new objectives. The Common Agricultural Policy should be better harmonised with the EU's ambitious R&D programmes in order to explore jointly new energy efficient, disease and drought resistant crops.
"Changing our light bulbs will not be enough to make Europe green. We need strong government at the European level across a wide range of policies, including tax and science, if the EU is to lead the world by example."
ENDS
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