Letter: Clean air target

We wrote to Struan Stevenson MEP last week highlighting the urgent need for Europe to increase its emissions reduction target to 30 per cent reductions (on 1990 levels) by 2020.

The European Parliament has an opportunity to vote on this issue today, and Stop Climate Chaos Scotland urges him to support the increased target.

Europe must show the necessary leadership on this issue if we are to prevent global warming and its impacts on people across the world.

More and more businesses continue to show their support for an increase to the EU target to 30 per cent, from Unilever to Standard Life, Vodafone to Ikea. They - alongside many others - have rightly recognised the opportunities that an increased target presents in terms of job creation within Europe.

Energy companies are also recognising the opportunities and need to invest in renewable energy technology in order to ensure that their businesses remain competitive and viable as our energy mix inevitably changes. There is no current or predicted trend of high-carbon-intensive companies relocating outside of Europe because of carbon emissions targets.

Mr Steven's own party leader has publicly committed the Conservative Party to an EU 30 per cent target.

It seems untenable for this to be opposed by Conservative MEPs like him while, at the same time, his party has supported the 2020 target for Scotland of 42 per cent. Stop Climate Chaos - a coalition of faith and international development groups, community councils, trade and student unions and environmental charities - calls on him to support the 30 per cent target today.

Tom Ballantine

Stop Climate Chaos Scotland

Lochside View

Edinburgh