Catholic and Protestant development networks CIDSE and APRODEV condemn the Polish veto on more ambitious green house gas emissions cuts in the EU. Poland vetoed an increase in the collective EU target at today’s EU Environment Council in Brussels. Increased EU ambition would benefit Europe and the world’s most vulnerable people, CIDSE and APRODEV say.
CIDSE Secretary General Bernd Nilles said: “The Polish veto is a slap in the face of the world’s poorest and against the interests of the Polish people in the long run too. A second economic transition in little more than two decades would surely not be easy for Poland. But more ambitious cuts would help all member states, including Poland, to spur innovation and reform its economy to face the challenges of tomorrow.”
APRODEV General Secretary Rob van Drimmelen said: “The Polish move could damage the international climate negotiations too. Developing countries are looking to the EU for leadership, while some big emitters would happily use the EU’s lack of climate ambition as an excuse not to engage in stronger actions.”
Earlier this week, CIDSE and APRODEV called on Polish decision makers to pave the way towards a low-carbon and competitive economy by supporting increased ambitions for the EU climate change policy.
The development networks urge the EU to do all it can to get all 27 member states on board still this year in order to reaffirm its leadership on climate change.
