Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2008-04-10-Speech-4-040"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20080410.4.4-040"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:spoken text |
"Mr President, could I suggest that we stop beating ourselves up over climate change and blaming each sector as if one is more guilty than the other? In particular this impression comes through about the contribution made by agriculture. Europe is powerless on its own to do anything about climate change, but it can provide much-needed leadership. We need global coordinated action, and that is recognised.
Let me deal specifically with the debate around agriculture. It contributes to climate change but it is also affected by it: that has been stated already. However, it is important to remember that agriculture produces food and without food we are not going very far. If you look at global demand for food it is set to increase by 50% in 20 years, but agriculture can, through carbon sequestration, anaerobic digestion, forestry planting – and I think that is the key – and wind energy, contribute to this debate.
In terms of the Irish situation we have actually reduced our emissions from agriculture by 3% since 1990, but look at what has happened to transport, where emissions are up by 163%. For industry the figure is 23%, and for energy 32%. The danger of targeting agriculture is that we will reduce cattle numbers and reduce emissions in Europe, but we will transfer production elsewhere and make absolutely no difference. So we do need to be careful on this.
Traditional practices, like digging your garden in the autumn and leaving it over winter, are now a no-no. Well, I am guilty because I still do it. Let us be sensible in this debate. Let us do the research and development so that we do not go backwards, but go forward with positive solutions. Look at India. It has 17% of the world population but only contributes to 4% of global greenhouse emissions. It has got to develop to look after its poor people. It will contribute to the debate on climate change but it can only do it in a way that recognises its real present situation.
Finally, can I say that the Lisbon Treaty, for the first time, gives us some hope for a global action on climate change, with Europe providing leadership. On that basis I hope that the Irish population turn out and vote overwhelmingly ‘yes’ to the Treaty of Lisbon."@en1
|
| lpv:spokenAs | |
| lpv:unclassifiedMetadata |
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples