Time for talk ends and the hard work starts

With the time for talk ending, the hard work of actually reducing carbon dioxide emissions is now beginning to be understood.

Writing in New Scientist, Fred Pearce quotes EU climate commissioner, Connie Hedegaard, who described the proposed targets as “ambitious”.

Hedegaard said: “Emission targets must be met with domestic actions along, with no contribution from ‘offset projects’ such as paying poor nations to plant and protect forests”.

Pearce’s story, headed: “Latest European climate targets may never be met”, tells readers that environmental groups have reacted to what is being proposed with dismay, arguing the target are not tough enough.