Hollande plans to reduce France's reliance on Nuclear energy from 75 to 50% (Source: jmayrault/Creative Commons)
The EU should adopt more ambitious targets to reduce its carbon emissions, French President Francois Hollande has said, calling for a global accord on climate change by 2015.
Speaking at an environmental conference in Paris, President Hollande recommended the EU take on targets to cut their carbon emissions by 40% by 2030 and 60% by 2040, well beyond the current 20% target set for 2020.
“We have an ambitious strategy,” he said, adding that he would defend the targets at EU level.
The President also re-affirmed France’s commitment to achieving a new global climate deal to be agreed by 2015, as was agreed at the UN climate talks last year – to come into force by 2020.
“Our next goal is to reach a global climate agreement in 2015. France is fully committed to achieving this,” he said. Hollande added that France would be happy to host the 2015 COP conference.
Earlier today Holland ordered a ban on shale gas exploitation in France, citing “the heavy risk to health and the environment” of fracking, which injects water, sand and chemicals under high pressure into rock to release oil and gas.
“As far as the exploration and exploitation of non-conventional hydrocarbons is concerned, this will be my policy throughout my term of office,” he said.
I hear France will only ask for 2030 & 2040 EU #climate targets.-40% in 2030 & -60% in 2040 doesn’t get you to -95% in 2050. Weak ambition
— Kat Watts (@watts_kat) September 14, 2012
Interesting Pres Hollande wants to host 2015 #UNFCCC COP to adopt new #climate agreemnt.Does that mean France will be champion for action?
— Kelly Rigg (@kellyrigg) September 14, 2012
Hollande said the EU would continue to pledge a 20% cut target at the next round of UN climate talks in Doha at the end of the year.
At the UN’s latest climate meeting in Bangkok, the EU faced criticism after one of their negotiators said increasing its target to 25% by 2020 would be “wishful thinking”.
The bloc did however, reiterate it would potentially move its current target to 30% by 2020, if other rich economies set out a similar level of ambition.
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