Letter to the Editor: EU agreement offers real hope for tackling climate change

From Mr Roland Rudd and others

Sir: How fitting that in the EU's 50th year, the continent's leaders should reach a deal to address what is probably the great challenge of our times: climate change. The recent IPCC report showed conclusively that the planet is warming, and that man must take much of the blame. Furthermore the Stern review has shown equally conclusively that urgent action is needed to stabilise the climate. Thankfully it was this sense of urgency that prevailed at the EU summit in Brussels.

The proposal to cut carbon emissions by 20 per cent from 1990 levels by 2020 is an important step in the right direction. Significant sections of the British business community recognise their responsibility towards the environment, and support this objective. There is a realisation too that this is an area where action at the European level is essential. In a recent poll, a majority of EU citizens (62 per cent) said the best way to tackle energy-related issues is "through measures agreed at EU level" as opposed to "measures agreed at national level" (32 per cent).

The EU-wide agreement on climate change will provide real momentum towards the wider global framework for action after 2012 that will be discussed at the G8 summit in Heiligendamm in June ahead of the UN climate change negotiations which open in December. We should applaud the EU and Europe's leaders for grasping the opportunity to make a real difference on an issue that matters to us all.

Richard Cousins, CEO, Compass
Lord Jay of Ewelme, Vice-Chair, Business for New Europe
Sir John Parker, Chairman, National Grid plc
Vijay Patel, CEO, Waymade Healthcare
Stuart Popham, Senior Partner, Clifford Chance
Sir Mike Rake, Chairman, KPMG International
Roland Rudd, Chairman, Business for New Europe
Bill Thomas, Executive Vice President, EDS
Lord Christopher Tugendhat, Chairman, European Advisory Board, Lehman Brothers