Europe is capable of cutting its carbon emissions by 40% by 2020, according to a new study by Friends of the Earth and the Stockholm Environment Institute, published at this week’s Copenhagen climate change conference.
Europe’s current commitment is to cut emissions by just 20%, compared to 1990 levels.
Richer countries are responsible for the vast majority of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and must achieve the reductions by radical improvements in energy efficiency, an accelerated phase-out of coal and fossil fuels, and a dramatic shift towards renewable energies, according to Friends of the Earth.
Ethical investments favour renewables
Today it is possible to directly promote research and development of renewable energies by building ethical funds into your investment portfolio.
Ethical funds use positive screening to include companies that manufacture environmental products, encourage biodiversity, or promote renewable energy.
Other ethical funds seek to exclude companies involved in various ‘unethical’ industrial sectors such as tobacco, alcohol, meat, nuclear power, defence, or intensive farming. Activities that can be avoided include deforestation, exploitation of workers, or animal testing.
