Combating climate change is arguably the single biggest challenge of the 21st century. The science of climate change is widely accepted - there is a broad consensus amongst scientists about the effect of carbon emissions and opinion polls indicate that the future of the environment is one of the most important issues to the electorate. It is the most important long-term factor for the future of developing countries and, if ignored, could debilitate the world economy. The question is: do politicians have the political will to match their rhetoric?
But, as David Miliband recently put it, "you cannot be an environmentalist without being an internationalist". The environment is one of the policy areas that naturally falls into the remit of the "Europe of results" coined by President Barroso. It makes sense to take action on the environment, where national action alone makes little difference, at world level and at continent-wide level through the EU. The EU level is an effective one for our corner of the plane, and because we can use the common rules for the common market to set tougher standards. It is also an effective tool for influencing the rest of the world.
Indeed, the EU has consistently taken the lead on environmental action. It was instrumental in securing the Kyoto Treaty and then in persuading Russia to ratify it. The Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) was initially established by the EU in order that the member countries could meet the requirements of Kyoto. And now, EU countries have agreed to cut greenhouse gas emission 20 percent by 2020, to increase the share of renewable energies in Europe's energy mix to at least 20% by 2020 and to introduce a 10% minimum target for bio-fuels in transport.
This latest package is, by any standards, an important breakthrough on an issue in which the Labour government and the EPLP have been at the forefront. Securing an EU-wide agreement on such a programme will not only make it more effective than acting alone in one country, but will also help gain leverage to persuade the rest of the world to do likewise. Indeed, the EU will increase its target for carbon reduction to 30% if "other developed countries commit themselves to comparable emission reductions".
Much of the effort to implement this will depend on national legislation and policies. However, some vital aspects will be for the European Parliament to legislate. Crucially, emission standards for vehicles and fuel quality standards are regulated by European law (as common rules for the common market).
In this context, the European Commission has proposed to the European Parliament a European law to bring average CO2 emissions from cars in Europe down to 130 grams per kilometre by 2012. Current emissions are estimated to be an average of 162 grams per kilometre, much higher than the existing voluntary target accepted by car manufacturers of 140 grams per kilometre by 2008, which they signally failed to implement.
However, European car manufacturers have signalled their intention to fight the proposal as they claim it will raise the price of cars (true to an extent) and force the production of cars outside of Europe (not true as the standard will apply to any car sold in Europe irrespective of where it is produced). Let battle commence!
Moreover, the EU has also called on Member States to use tax incentives to encourage cleaner vehicles and has urged businesses to use modern technology and innovation to reduce the emission of greenhouse gas. Although critics from the usual sources have described the proposals as far-fetched and unachievable, the same sceptics predicted the failure of the ETS and Kyoto.
Meanwhile, in the UK, the government's Climate Change Bill, will go a long way to ensuring that the UK meets, and perhaps even go beyond, its EU and international commitments. Gordon Brown has driven forward the Energy Technologies Institute to co-ordinate £1 billion towards research and development projects, while the Government has established partnerships with Norway and China on carbon capture and clean coal technology. Just as the EU is leading the world, the UK is leading Europe.
The onus is on the EU to go further. We are the world's largest single market and the EU budget of over €120 billion per year gives us the ability to drive research and development, energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. Although the initial costs of tackling climate change will be significant, oil giant BP recently published a study showing that it also offers business opportunities, worth £30 billion to British companies over the coming decade. In Germany, the renewable energy sector has already generated an estimated 170,000 jobs and €16 billion in turnover. Quite simply, if we can combine political will with financial support the reality of climate change offers many opportunities.
The 50 th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome should remind us of Europe's transformation from a continent ravaged by war to one enjoying peace and prosperity. Leading the world in tackling climate change suggests the Union's next enduring milestone in the century to come.