Merkel calls for challenging emissions controls

The twin demands of action to prevent climate change and enhance energy security requires Europe to commit to challenging mandatory controls on greenhouse gasses after 2012, Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, said on Wednesday.

In a marked contrast to George Bush’s State of the Union address on Tuesday, when he set an ambition to reduce gasoline usage in the US by 20 per cent over the next 10 years, Ms Merkel said she welcomed the opportunity for the European Union to “offer a [greenhouse gas] reduction target of 30 per cent, but we expect other large emitters to participate in that”.
With the US still refusing to set a mandatory limit on its emissions, the transatlantic differences remain wide, even though Ms Merkel welcomed the moves made by President Bush.

Climate change is at the top of the agenda for business leaders at the world economic forum at Davos. In rhetoric at least, business leaders in the Swiss ski resort were far closer to the German chancellor’s position, wanting certainty and expecting stronger action on climate change than that of Mr Bush.

Financial Times