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EU Aims To Be 'Climate Neutral' By 2050 (bbc.com)

Posted by msmash on from the greater-good dept.

AmiMoJo writes: The European Union says it is aiming to become the first major economy to go 'climate neutral' by 2050. Under the plan, emissions of greenhouse gases after that date would have to be offset by planting trees or by burying them underground. Scientists say that net-zero emissions by 2050 are needed to have a fighting chance of keeping global temperatures under 1.5C this century. The EU says the move will also cut premature air pollution deaths by 40%. The EU says that this can be done with existing technologies such as solar and wind energy which would have to be ramped up to provide 80% of electricity. Energy efficiency measures such as home insulation would also need to be boosted to reduce energy consumption by half by the middle of the century.

10 of 205 comments (clear)

  1. Assuming.... by Zorro · · Score: 4, Insightful

    There will even be an EU in 2050.

    1. Re:Assuming.... by jellomizer · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Well seeing how much of a pain Brexit is, with UK having been only mostly in the EU (kept its own currency) I expect most other nations after seeing the trouble it is, probably will not want to bother to leave the EU.

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    2. Re:Assuming.... by AmiMoJo · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Brexit has pretty much killed off the other "leave" movements in the EU. Everyone has seen that the milk and honey fantasy was impossible. They know their politicians won't do any better, and see how the EU has presented a united, strong front the whole way through.

      There will be some economic harm, but in some ways Brexit has actually been a benefit to the EU. As well as discouraging anyone else thinking of leaving, it's created an opportunity to reform and move ahead without Britain holding it back.

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    3. Re:Assuming.... by dargaud · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Yes. The brits have always wanted the butter with the butter's money. They kept asking for 'exception' on all the disadvantages while keeping all the advantages of EU. They should have been kicked out of EU long ago. Well, it's done now, I wish them well, but I'm not holding my breath for them.

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  2. Re:U.S. is way ahead of them. by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Score: +5, Sarcasm.

    See: SUVs, fossil-fuel based power plants such as coal, anti-science President and wasteful American way of life.

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  3. talk is cheap by e432776 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    My observation is that governments around the world, at all levels, are great at making pronouncements, less great at accomplishing the stated goals. Recent example, note EU not on track: According to the UN, most major polluters are not on track to meet their Paris goals.

    In addition to the EU, Rwanda also launched a climate change mitigation plan today Rwanda launches national plan for Paris Agreement on climate change

    Another day, another set of cheap pronouncements.

    1. Re:talk is cheap by fatwilbur · · Score: 2, Insightful

      This is one area I always gave Trump credit for - calling out the Paris agreement as silly and not achievable. Whatever his motivation, he was the only person being realistic about it, because he was the only "non politician" of the group, who typically are more interested in making grand pronouncements.

      I read that the EU is close to reporting that my country, Canada, is nowhere close to meeting it's Paris commitments. So basically, our real world performance has been no different from the US, but Trudeau talks a great hot-air game and so gets all the credit vs. criticism for Trump.

  4. Re:U.S. is way ahead of them. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Better in what? Education? Quality of life? Access to affordable healthcare? Crime? Environment?

    Do tell.

  5. Re:U.S. is way ahead of them. by fred6666 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The U.S. has already reduced carbon faster than the EU.

    Wake me up when the U.S. has reduced carbon enough to get per capita emissions lower than the EU.

  6. Re:U.S. is way ahead of them. by jwhyche · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Seems to be working well for you. I tell you what, since you think that it is such a bad thing why do you move someplace like Iran or Venezuela and lets see how you do there?

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