Major Economies Forum – Interview given by Jean-Louis Borloo, Ministre d’Etat, Minister for Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and Town and Country Planning (Regional Development), to the “La Tribune” newspaper
Paris, 30 April 2009
Q. – You’re just back from the two-day Major Economies Forum [on Energy and Climate] in Washington. Your assessment?
THE MINISTER – During this Major Economies Forum (MEF), the White House demonstrated the importance it now attaches to the climate issue. President Obama wound up our discussions. This forum isn’t competing with the climate negotiations conducted in the UN framework and so is part and parcel of this process which has to lead to a new agreement on the climate in Copenhagen in December. Thanks to the MEF’s limited membership, we can get a better understanding of everyone’s problems. We’ll resume the dialogue in this format in Paris on 26 and 27 May.
Q. – Is the United States going to adopt goals for reducing CO2 emissions which are commensurate with its power?
THE MINISTER – Everyone welcomed the United States’ return to the negotiation and the constructive dialogue. But in the view of the emerging countries, the United States can’t just content itself with bringing its CO2 emissions in 2020 down to the 1990 level, as President Obama has suggested. It would be difficult to understand those with the highest per capita CO2 emissions not doing more to save the climate. In Europe and the major emerging countries’ view, we have to stick to the roadmap set out at the UN conference in Bali (2007). It envisages action to combat global warming on the basis of our scientific knowledge. This means that by 2020 the rich countries must reduce their CO2 emissions by between 25 and 40% compared with the 1990 level. In the face of the climate challenge, countries have joint but differentiated responsibilities.
Q. – Is the Waxman bill to limit emissions on track in Congress?
THE MINISTER – The discussion in the Energy Committee isn’t straightforward. But what I find striking is that, if adopted, this bill would mean cutting CO2 emissions in the United States by barely 5-6% compared with 1990. This risks being insufficient, particularly in the view of the emerging countries.
Q. – Are the Europeans the only ones publicly setting out their goals for cutting emissions?
THE MINISTER – In December, Europe pledged to reduce its emissions by 20% by 2020 compared with 1990, and even by 30% if an international agreement is found. This pledge has today become the framework for the international discussions./.