European Union leaders on Friday raised the possibility of trade sanctions against the U.S. and China, if the two economic powerhouses have not committed to reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by next year.
European leaders said they are concerned about the well-fare of their domestic businesses, which are required to participate in the European Union’s goal of reducing GHG emissions by 20% from 1990 levels by 2020.
These businesses will suffer a competitive disadvantage to companies in the U.S. and China, if similar reductions are not required there.
Twenty-seven EU leaders issued a declaration pushing for commitments by the U.S. and China before the U.N. conference on climate change in Copenhagen, Denmark next year.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said, "Our main concern is to set up a mechanism that would allow us to strike against the imports of countries that don’t play by the rules of the game on environmental protection."
British Prime Minsiter Gordon Brown tried to soften the stance a bit, seemingly wary of threatening the world’s biggest polluters. He said, "I don’t think we should allow things to stand in the way of getting the best possible international agreement."
Likewise, Germany has suggested a back-up plan that would exempt heavily polluting industries, including steel and cement, from the EU cuts, instead of imposing sanctions.
This plan, aimed at keeping these businesses from leaving Europe, drew intense criticism from environmental groups.
"European leaders continue to focus on the dinosaurs in the energy-intensive industry," said Stephan Singer, head of WWF. "They run the risk to miss the big picture of the huge costs Europe and humanity will have to face if no serious action is taken now."
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