EU leaders warned of climate catastrophe

EU leaders have expressed a "very, very strong desire" to take action on climate change, including emissions from aviation, British prime minister Tony Blair said at an informal summit hosted by the EU Finnish presidency in Lahti on Friday and Saturday.

In a joint letter addressed their European colleagues ahead of the meeting, Mr Blair and Dutch prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende, called for urgent action on climate change, arguing that the world has reached a "catastrophic tipping point".  Leaders have a window of only 10-15 years to avoid "serious consequences" for the economy and people's safety, the two prime ministers said.

At the meeting, heads of governments agreed that the EU must show "strong leadership" on the issue, and reiterated that improving energy efficiency is key priority.

Discussions focused on energy issues and EU relations with Russia in this area.  Among other issues discussed was innovation policy and competitiveness, including a proposal for a European technology institute (EED 19/10/06 http://www.endseuropedaily.com/21885).

Follow-up: Finnish presidency http://www.eu2006.fi/en_GB/,

plus press releases 1 http://www.eu2006.fi/news_and_documents/other_documents/vko42/en_GB/1161368914040/

and 2 http://www.eu2006.fi/news_and_documents/other_documents/vko42/en_GB/1161383205709/. 

See also UK press release http://www.pm.gov.uk/output/Page10246.asp,

statement http://www.pm.gov.uk/output/Page10265.asp and joint letter http://www.pm.gov.uk/files/pdf/Vanhanen.pdf.

ENDS Europe Daily is Europe's leading environmental news service. A free trial is available by clicking on the following link: http://www.endseuropedaily.com/web/helcom