2030 climate and energy package: Squinzi asks Letta to reject the 40% cut in Co2 emissions

The Confederation of Italian Industries is “worried” about the Co2 cut proposed by the Environment Minister, Orlando: “Unrealistic target, our country should not adopt it.”

The European Commission has been working these days on the framework for the 2030 climate and energy package, which is to be adopted starting from January 22. The Italian industries are getting more and more worried about the fact: first, the letter sent by the President of BusinessEurope Emma Marcegaglia to the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, in which it was asked not to undermine industrial competitiveness. Then, the letter sent by Giorgio Squinzi, President of Confindustria (Confederation of Italian Industries) to the Italian PM, Enrico Letta.

The letter expressed “real concern for the resolutions to be taken by the European Commission on January 22, dealing the 2030 climate and energy targets which will be then examined by each Member States’ government and Parliament.”

The parameters that will define the climate targets for the European Community from 2020 on are at stake. From 2020 on in fact, the current 20-20-20 targets will no longer be in force. The targets of the current package were raising the share of EU energy consumption produced from renewable resources to 20%, a 20% reduction in EU greenhouse gas emissions and a 20% improvement in the EU’s energy efficiency, from 1990 levels. The possible new targets could be even more ambitious.

The main issue is the possibility of a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions: this is an “unrealistic target at Italian level, that cannot represent the position of Italy on the matter,” says Mr. Squinzi.

The rift has developed, though. Just few weeks ago, a group of European Environment Ministers sent a letter to Connie Hedegaard, the EU commissioner for climate action, where they said it would be crucial to get a 40 percent emissions reduction target. The Italian Environment Minister, Andrea Orlando, signed the letter together with ministers from Germany, France and UK, among others.

On the other hand, “the opinion expressed in the letter,” says Confindustria, “cannot represent the Italian government’s decision.” Our industrial sector, says Squinzi, “is in fact seriously committed to follow a path of environmental sustainability” but “the goals set in the field must be realistic and possible to reach at the lowest possible cost for enterprises, in order to safeguard their competitiveness and to prevent negative effects on the economy and on the society as a whole.” In other words, please “do not harm the Italian productive system.”

Letizia Pascale