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EU's Proposed Climate Policies Are a Good Start

The EU has put its money where its mouth is, note German commentators, in unveiling a concrete roadmap to drastic emissions cuts. But the devil could be in the details, and the road to a greener Europe is sure to be paved with infighting.

Europeans got a first glimpse Wednesday of the price they will have to pay to achieve the ambitious climate change goals that Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel first outlined at the G-8 summit in Heiligendamm last spring.

The bill could be as much as €60 billion ($87.7 billion) -- less than 1 percent of Europe's projected gross domestic product in 2020, European Commission president Jose Manuel Barosso argues, and far less than the cost of inaction. But business leaders were quick to counter that the Commission's roadmap to a greener Europe -- including policies dictating tight emissions reductions targets for rich West European nations and a strengthening of the EU's carbon trading market -- could hurt the competitiveness of European firms.

"We predict massive energy cost increases for industry, and also for private consumers," said Jürgen Thurmann, president of the Federation of German Industries (BDI). "Firstly the heavy industry will be impacted, and subsequently, other industry sectors as well."

Commentators writing in Germany's major newspapers Tuesday agreed that German industry leaders will protest tighter regulations -- but some argued that Germany received more exemptions than other European nations. Most agreed that the Commission's draft package is a welcome first step towards earning Europe's self-assumed title as the world's leader on tackling climate change.

The center-left Süddeutsche Zeitung writes:

"Responsibility for the reduction of greenhouse gases and the development of renewable energy will be fairly divided. Rich and industrially advanced countries will have to shoulder a bigger burden, so that the poorer EU nations have sufficient leeway to develop their industrial infrastructure. That energy-intensive heavy industries should carry additional costs is sensible in theory, provided that their international competitiveness is not impaired."

"The bold European climate and energy policies that Chancellor Angela Merkel championed 12 months ago have withered on the vine amidst diplomatic gridlock over a new international climate change treaty. But for negotiations in the years ahead, there is new hope -- that hope cannot be realized if Europe does not follow its words with action. A policy to lead by example only works when one is perceived to be following through on the promise."

"The growing economic powers -- China and India as well as economically underdeveloped nations -- will only make sacrifices when they see that Europeans, and hopefully soon the Americans, too, have seen serious success with their own course of action."

The left-leaning Die Tageszeitung writes:

"Until now, European climate change policy was all talk. But as of yesterday it is certain that the EU is serious about climate change. The policy package unveiled by the EU's European Commission includes clear guidelines for EU industry and member states. And while there are some things to criticize in the details, they are overshadowed by this positive news."

"And when it comes to alternative energy, the Commission is leading Europe in the right direction: strict targets combined with national power-grid systems ensure that every country will invest in researching technology like solar and geothermic energy. They are not yet competitive on those fronts, but there is great potential."

The financial daily Handelsblatt writes:

"After the fierce row between European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and German Chancellor Angela Merkel over a proposed carbon dioxide emissions limit for European cars, the pair seems to have put the past behind them. Barroso's policy package for greenhouse-gas emissions reductions and for the development of renewable energy seems to have taken into account all the critical sticking points to which Berlin objected in recent weeks."

"The strategy proposed yesterday in Brussels for sharing the burden of climate change prevention between EU member states is sure to spark a fierce dispute. While Germany has come away with relatively light responsibility, other EU states are feeling unfairly disadvantaged. Mountain climbers will recognize the challenge: it's easier to strive to reach the summit than it is to find the right route there. The EU is learning this as they address climate change."

The mass-circulation daily Bild Zeitung writes:

"Things are not always as good as they sound. Brussels has struck a hard blow to Germany industry. That could cost many jobs, because it will be costly to the nation's competitiveness. ... We need intelligent ideas on climate change, not the demonization of atomic energy. And why are geothermal options out of the picture?"

"Merkel, the Climate Chancellor, knows that we can't pave the country with wind turbines and solar panels. We don't need foolish edicts!"

-- Patrick McGroarty, 2:30 p.m. CET