Reducing emissions by 40% by 2020

Friends of the Earth have launched an ambitious study which claims to show how to reduce European greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2020 and 90% in 2050.


The study, undertaken by the world renowned Stockholm Environment Institute, says cuts could even go further if technologies that are not yet commercially available are used too.

Revealing the finding at the Copenhagen climate change talks Dr Charlie Heaps lead scientist on the report said at the request of backers Friends of Earth Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and nuclear methods had been excluded.

He said: “We need radical efficiency improvement, the speeding up of retiring of fossil fuels and a dramatic shift to renewable, such as wind and solar.

“We start from a position of what science says need to be done, and how to keep climate change within two degree C – which is largely thought to be the safe limit.”

Nimmo Bassey, chair, of Friends of the Earth International welcomed the report and encouraged delegates at COP15 to read it.

Luke Walsh

Action inspires action. Stay ahead of the curve with sustainability and energy newsletters from edie

Subscribe