How the E.U Plans to Combat Global Warming

Climate change and global warming - indeed, howreaffirm the need for global solidarity and
to control them - are becoming more central torecognizes the importance of strengthening our
politics with every new development. Sustainablework with partners outside the EU, including those
energy is the method of our times, andrapidly developing countries which will have a
government's across the globe are undersignificant impact on global sustainable
pressure - from each other, from environmentaldevelopment."
groups, and from individuals - to implementSo the E.U - acknowledging its role within the
genuine and successful 'green' policy.world's sphere - champions the importance of
The E.U is one of the biggest political organisationsclimate change as a global issue, and believes that
in the world. It comprises 27 member states andit should be treated as such. Its method for
under its banner are close to 500 million people.achieving that aim is to work closely and
The GDP that the E.U generates accounts forextensively with the world's other governmental
roughly 30% of the world.bodies.
In terms of the world's environment, then, it is aThe SDS has 7 key areas of interest:
chief player. What is the European Union doing toClimate change and clean energy
combat global warming and climate change? AndSustainable transport
are they committed to the cause?Sustainable consumption & production
The official E.U website has this to say on theConservation and management of natural
matter:resources
"Sustainable Development stands for meeting thePublic Health
needs of present generations without jeopardizingSocial inclusion, demography and migration
the ability of futures generations to meet theirGlobal poverty and sustainable development
own needs - in other words, a better quality ofchallenges
life for everyone, now and for generations toCentral, then, is the simultaneous need for a
come. It offers a vision of progress thatmaintenance of current ecosystems - to
integrates immediate and longer-term objectives,conserve and manage the continent's current
local and global action, and regards social,resources - combined with a development of a
economic and environmental issues as inseparablesustainable infrastructure for the future;
and interdependent components of humaninvestment in clean fuels, plus solar energy, wind
progress.energy and biogas.
Sustainable development will not be brought aboutIndeed, the E.U - through its 7 SDS points -
by policies only: it must be taken up by society atrecognises that environmental issues affect
large as a principle guiding the many choices eacheverything in our lives, because we are part of
citizen makes every day, as well as the bigthe environment, and so everything we do is
political and economic decisions that have. Thisaffecting it also. As such, the E.U beleives that
requires profound changes in thinking, in economic'Changing Behaviour' is imperative in the fight
and social structures and in consumption andagainst climate change:
production patterns.""A host of cultural, economic, social and
What is clear, then, is that the E.U see promotionpsychological factors affect the way we behave,
of the message as central; a sustainable future isoften locking us into unsustainable consumption
only possible with a growing conciousness andhabits. Even those who say they will buy organic
willingness on the part of the public to accept andfood for environmental reasons and the good of
encourage environmental policy and legislation.their own health may change their minds if
If the E.U can get its citizens to accept theproducts outstrip their budget."
challenge, though, what policy can be expectedThe overall challenge, then, for the European Union
from the organizations governments?- along with the rest of the world's nations - is to
The 'E.U Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS)'educate the next generation on the pitfalls of our
was established to answer exactly that question.own.
In its own words, the SDS will "gradually changeThat way, the E.U can guarantee that it does not
our current unsustainable consumption andreturn in the future to the issues that have
production patterns and move towards a bettercaused the problem in the first instance.
integrated approach to policy-making...[it will]