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

In adopting the report by Mr Rolf LINKOHR (PSE, D), the European Parliament calls for a reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases and a binding strategy with clear goals and a precise timetable. The European Union must make every effort at the Kyoto conference on climate change to advocate binding goals for the period beyond 2000, together with procedures to monitor the obligations entered into. Parliament also calls for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to be given priority over other energy policy goals. It urges the Commission to prepare specific proposals on controlling climate change and to make use of all the possibilities available to it to introduce a Community energy tax. Parallel to the above, Parliament has adopted a resolution on the Kyoto conference, prepared by its Committee on the Environment, approving the minimum goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 7.5% by 2005 and 15% by 2010. This goal should be the subject of a more binding commitment on the part of the Union, a commitment which will have to be guaranteed by the Commission and the governments of the Member States in the course of the Kyoto negotiations and implemented in the Union afterwards. �