1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:05,000 Evidence that the world's climate is changing can be seen all around us. 2 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:10,000 Phenomena like floods, droughts, heat waves, and the melting of the polar ice caps 3 00:00:10,000 --> 00:00:16,000 are posing an increasing danger to the lives of people and to the global environment we all depend on. 4 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:21,000 If you come back to a glacier each and every year, you see a difference. 5 00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:26,000 If you take pictures and you film things like I do, you see change. 6 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:30,000 Last December's United Nations conference in Bali succeeded in launching negotiations 7 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:33,000 on a new global agreement to tackle climate change. 8 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:39,000 It was, notably, thanks to the European Union's international leadership in addressing this major threat. 9 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:45,000 I think we can say that our global warning against global warming is producing results. 10 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:47,000 But now we have to deliver. 11 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:53,000 We have to adopt a consistent package with concrete targets for all our member states. 12 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:56,000 Today, the European Commission is proposing a package of measures 13 00:00:56,000 --> 00:01:00,000 to implement an ambitious new climate and energy policy for Europe. 14 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:04,000 A central aim is to reduce the European Union's greenhouse gas emissions 15 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:08,000 by at least 20% of their 1990 levels by 2020, 16 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:14,000 and, if other industrialized countries agree to do the same, by 30%. 17 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:17,000 The enemy is carbon. 18 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:20,000 We can beat the enemy. 19 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:25,000 We know how to do it, and we know we can afford it. 20 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:31,000 We have calculated that the cost of taking the proper decisions today 21 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:37,000 would be about one-tenth of one percentage point per year. 22 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:41,000 Europe's targets for reducing its emissions will require efforts by every member state 23 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:48,000 and all parts of the economy, from transport to agriculture and households. 24 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:57,000 Today's proposal set out how much each country would have to do. 25 00:01:57,000 --> 00:02:02,000 The principle is a commitment that's tough but fair. 26 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:09,000 This means that every member state will contribute according to its financial ability. 27 00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:13,000 Greenhouse gas emissions from energy-intensive sectors like power generation, 28 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:18,000 steel and chemicals will be reduced through the EU's emissions trading system, 29 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:21,000 which enables industry to cut emissions at least cost. 30 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:24,000 This system will be strengthened and expanded, 31 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:30,000 and the overall cap on emissions from the sectors covered will be considerably tightened. 32 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:36,000 Today's proposals will also boost renewable energy sources like wind and solar power. 33 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:42,000 At the moment, renewables account for around 8.5% of the EU's energy consumption. 34 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:46,000 The goal is to more than double that to 20% by 2020, 35 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:52,000 and for biofuels to make up 10% of petrol and diesel by the same date. 36 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:59,000 I know perfectly that some companies are working very well in research and development 37 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:07,000 and are already making a lot of business out of renewable energy, and that will only increase. 38 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:12,000 The measures proposed by the European Commission will spur innovation in new technologies, 39 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:17,000 create new jobs and strengthen Europe's energy security and industrial competitiveness. 40 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:20,000 With its new climate and energy policy, 41 00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:25,000 the European Union is getting a head start in the race to create the low-carbon world economy needed 42 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:29,000 to prevent climate change from reaching dangerous levels.