Posted: 11/25/2008
Klaus as EU President Could Change Climate Change
Outspoken Czech President Reflects Growing Skepticism About Costs of Misguided Policies
DALLAS (Nov. 25, 2008) - Czech President Vaclav Klaus could bring much-needed change to the climate policies of Europe when he assumes the post of President of the European Union (EU) in January, according to NCPA Senior Fellow H. Sterling Burnett.
"Arguably, no world leader better understands the difficult scientific, economic and political questions that must be answered to shape a climate policy that takes care of the environment while fostering continued economic growth," Burnett said.
Klaus, who also is the NCPA's Distinguished Leader, has criticized the course set by the union's departing leader, President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, and many EU nations already have been re-thinking the costs of regulating the environment, some even threatening to veto any new climate treaty, according to Burnett.
"Klaus has been saying all along that reducing energy use to halt global warming costs far more than the benefits it provides," Burnett said. "The hope is that under Klaus, as the EU comes to its senses about the true costs of climate change policies, America will not lose its sense and adopt policies that have already been tried, and failed in Europe. Under the present administration, using voluntary measures, the U.S. has slowed its emissions much more than Europe even without the mandatory caps that have costs Europe so much," said Burnett.