. | . |
Prince Charles decries 'reckless roulette' over climate Brussels (AFP) Feb 9, 2011 Britain's Prince Charles hit out Wednesday at climate change doubters for playing a "reckless game of roulette" with Earth's future and urged Europe to take ambitious action against global warming. The eco-friendly prince delivered his message at a "low-carbon" summit hosted by the European Parliament, calling on the European Union to pledge a 30 percent reduction in harmful CO2 emissions by 2020. Charles denounced the "corrosive effect" on public opinion caused by climate change sceptics, who deny scientific evidence showing "beyond any reasonable doubt" that human industrial activity has exacerbated global warming. "I would ask how these people are going to face their grandchildren and admit to them that they actually failed their future," he said. "I wonder, will such people be held accountable at the end of the day for the absolute refusal to countenance a precautionary approach, for this plays I would suggest a most reckless game of roulette with the future inheritance of those who come after us?" Flanked by EU president Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso, Prince Charles praised EU efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2020 from 1990 levels, but asked for more. "I know that many in the EU aspire to agree a target of reducing greenhouse gasses by 30 percent, and I can only applaud their efforts," he said. A majority of states in the 27-nation EU refuse to commit to a 30 percent cut in CO2 emissions as long as the world's top polluters, with the United States topping the list, make similar pledges. The British royal appealed for a "green economy" with zero-carbon buildings, stringent energy efficiency targets for cars and household goods, and more processing of waste. "What you decide here could induce the very necessary adjustments we so urgently need to make," he told European lawmakers. "So can I ask if you will be courageous enough to seize the moment, set Europe on a course for survival and economic prosperity and so earn the endless gratitude of our descendants."
Share This Article With Planet Earth
Related Links Climate Science News - Modeling, Mitigation Adaptation
Man, Volcanoes And The Sun Have Influenced Europe's Climate Over Recent Centuries Barcelona, Spain (SPX) Jan 21, 2011 An International research team has discovered that seasonal temperatures in Europe, above all in winter, have been affected over the past 500 years by natural factors such as volcanic eruptions and solar activity, and by human activities such as the emission of greenhouse gases. The study, with Spanish involvement, could help us to better understand the dynamics of climate change. Up until ... read more |
|
The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2010 - SpaceDaily. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |