Climate change: energy dimension, preparation of the Kyoto Conference, December 1997

The text adopted by the committee focused on the greenhouse gas emission targets set by the European Union to be negotiated at the climate change conference in Kyoto in December 1997. If additional efforts were not made, an increase of 5% to 8% in C02 emissions could be expected. Rapporteur Rolf LINKOHR (PES, D) said: "While EU representatives create a positive feeling during international negotiations with scenarios involving reductions, the recorded values indicate the opposite." The committee emphasized energy efficiency and renewable sources of energy. In addition, It called for: -priority to be given to greenhouse gas cuts over other energy goals; -a massive increase in funding for energy research; -the establishment of an International Climate Agency to collect information and identify obstacles.