German industry issues stark warning ahead of EU climate summit

(EurActiv, 22 Oct 2014) As EU heads of state prepare to thrash out an agreement on the bloc's 2030 energy and climate change goals at a summit opening in Brussels tomorrow (23 October), energy-intensive industries in Germany have reiterated warnings that a European "solo effort" would come with billions in losses. EurActiv Germany reports.

German companies are concerned about the extra burden they fear will come with a new, higher climate protection target for 2030.

Utz Tillmann, a spokesman for the Energy Intensive Industries of Germany (EID) - which includes chemicals, steelmaking, cement and others - said he supported an ambitious agreement at the Paris UN climate summit in December next year.

But these goals should include strong and comparable commitments for both industrialised and newly industrialised countries, he stressed.

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EurActiv, 22 Oct 2014: German industry issues stark warning ahead of EU climate summit