EU closing in on vital climate change package

This week's plenary session in Brussels was dominated by the climate change and energy package. The negotiations between Parliament, Council and Commission to agree a deal at first reading in Strasbourg in two weeks time have been proceeding well. There is still some way to go, however, and it is vital that all sides make the last effort to reach an agreement.

To be acceptable to Parliament the package of measures must be sufficiently vigorous for us to achieve the agreed EU targets of a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions and a 20%increase in renewables by the year 2020 - but also to enable us to go further and raise this up to 30% in the event of an international agreement. I am also pleased that there seems to be agreement that the biofuels target should be subject to strict sustainability criteria, ensuring that biofuels would not have a detrimental impact on food prices.

The debate also displayed some of the worst aspects of the European Tory delegation. Roger Helmer ignored the hard science of man-made climate change caused by our high carbon emissions, claiming that "the threat is not posed by global warming, but by policy responses which would "have a devastating economic effect". Such arguments are not only scientifically bone-headed but also economically suspect. The sad irony is that the reaction to Tories like Helmer on climate change is similar to their proposed response to the current financial crisis: do nothing. But doing nothing on climate change now could, as with failing to stimulate our economy, cause widespread human suffering and serious economic decline further down the line. In taking action now, we can not only negate these potential costs but also, as exists already in some parts of the world and several European countries, develop 'green' jobs and a 'green' economy.

Some like Helmer and UKIP describe the climate change package as being extreme. If so, then I am an extremist - but let us be clear: moderation in the face of a threat to the very future of this planet would be no virtue and vigorous action no vice.