Statement by Connie HEDEGAARD (Denmark), Commissioner designate for Climate Action, during her hearing at EP in Brussels.

Brussels

Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

Committee on Transport and Tourism

hearing of Commissioners

HEDEGAARD, Connie (DK, EC)

2010 Commissioners' hearings (T)

hearing of Connie HEDEGAARD (T)

Hearing of Connie HEDEGAARD (Denmark), Commissioner designate for Climate Action: extracts

Connie HEDEGAARD Commissioner designate for Climate Action (in English) I would like to see a Europe that is the most climate friendly region in the world and that is the living proof by investing in climate friendly and energy efficient technologies you do not loose economically, you gain.

Connie HEDEGAARD Commissioner designate for Climate Action (in English) If Europe produce smarter and more energy efficient vehicles than others it will not just benefit our climate and our environment it will also lessen the needs for imported fuels and it will make it more likely that we can secure jobs, some may say we can not afford it I say we cannot afford not to.

Connie HEDEGAARD Commissioner designate for Climate Action (in English) When we for example reform agriculture, we must systematically think climate perspective, into our priorities another area is transport, transport related emissions keeps grooving and offset to often the emissions reductions achieve in the power and manufacturing sectors. Some headway has been made with CO2 and cars legislation... the forthcoming integration of aviation into the European carbon market, and the Commission's proposal on CO2 on light duty vehicles, but more needs to be done.

Connie HEDEGAARD Commissioner designate for Climate Action 5In English) question from Marita Ulfskog, concerning an emission cut of 30 percent instead of 20) When it comes to 30 percent, I would like us to go to the 30 percent as soon as possible but in hindsight, seen what happened in Copenhagen its up to the first of February I think we should be very cautions us going up from 20 to 30 in a manor that can make others deliver more than they have announced so far.

Connie HEDEGAARD Commissioner designate for Climate Action (in English) (Question about nuclear power by K Liotard) The policy, has for a long time in the EU, has been for a long time that the energy mix would be up to the countries themselves. I come from a country where we decided by a vote in Parliament back in 1985 that would not have nuclear, we decide instead to pursue a way of renewable... and energy efficiency etc. Applause We had a huge success with that.

In my universe, nuclear is not a renewable recourse Appause

Connie HEDEGAARD Commissioner designate for Climate Action (in English) (answering a question about local food) It makes sense, also climate wise to buy things that are produced nearby,... but I think in a global world we should regulate that politically in a different way. People will have there choose but we could take care by having emission included from aviation, shipping, and make the polluter pay. We can make it come at a prize if you import food from very far away, so by that it will give comparative advantages for things being produced nearby.

Connie HEDEGAARD Commissioner designate for Climate Action (in English) It's was almost embarrassing that we did not get a European position on forestry up to COP15, just one example that we are really lacking behind.

Could you have done more in Copenhagen? (question from D J&ouml;rgensen) Connie HEDEGAARD Commissioner designate for Climate Action (in Danish) Could we have done anything different? I'm sure, but it would not have led to a different outcome. My analysis is that there where some countries that changed strategies along the way and they decided that they didn't want this..

The last hours in Copenhagen China, India, Russia, the US, Japan, each spoke with one voice while Europe spoke with many different voices, sometimes we spend so much time agreeing with each other that when finally the EU comes to the international negotiations we are almost unable to negotiate, here we must improve.