Building blocks for climate change solutions

Chemistry is probably the science that Europe most needs to achieve its sustainable development goals and to fi ght against climate change. Through its constantly innovative approach, the chemical industry can deliver the practical solutions to turn objectives into reality. The spearhead of a diffi cult fi ght, our industry provides Europe with the technical means to match its political ambitions.

This exhibition demonstrates how the European chemical industry can contribute to making society an environment-friendly responsible actor and a saving energy consumer. Finding and implementing on a large scale the solutions that will transform our behaviours and reduce greenhouse gas emissions is the central challenge for chemistry.

To tackle climate change, Europe needs a competitive chemical industry, able to develop research and investment. The European chemical industry has already achieved one third of all industrial CO₂ emission reductions since 1990. The emissions trading scheme should recognise these achievements and reward the industries and companies that deliver on GHG reductions, allowing them to face relentless global competition under fair conditions.

May this exhibition contribute to making us aware of the essential role of chemistry in the fight to improve our environment and our living conditions.

Climate Change is an issue that will keep us occupied in the future. It is scientifi cally proven that anthropogenic factors infl uence the climate. The measures that we have to take must be synchronized with society and economy. We should bear in mind that taking action will be defi nitely less expensive than taking no action. We need to act soon and aim for sustainability.

If Europe is to lead the way then we will have to come up with viable solutions for tackling global climate change and a fully functioning EU ETS will make a major contribution. As a Member on the ENVI, CLIM and ITRE committees and as a Member of GLOBE EU, I have long been involved in the climate debate. However, in my nine years experience here at the European Parliament, I have never witnessed such momentum on any issue.

I will be working hard on the EU ETS Review proposal in the coming months and am I hopeful of a successful COP-15 in Copenhagen in 2009. We have no choice. We must get it right.

The transition to a low carbon society is a key global priority. In order to make the ETS more workable and effective, a better rewarding to most effi cient operators should be granted in the European Commission's proposal for a new climate change issues management. By allocating the allowances on the basis of the most effi cient benchmarks, the scheme will reward energy effi cient companies that have invested in environmental friendly production processes.

A range of energy effi cient technologies already exist and can be introduced with short lead times.