Calling climate change "the single biggest problem humanity has faced", former London mayor Ken Livingstone told a session of the EP's Climate Change committee that the tools necessary to halve emissions are already in place. Though political will and sustainable energy consumption are key requisites, a successful EU climate change policy will have to involve the pooling of best practices across Europe.

In London, said Mr Livingstone, it would be possible to reduce carbon emissions "by 60% by 2025 and 80-90% by 2050" by using existing technologies. Through changes in consumer behaviour and locally generated power alone, "we could reduce emissions by 65%." If each city advances on every front – accumulating best practices from cities worldwide – the 60 % reduction in London "could be reproduced all over Europe." If you collect and implement best practice from each area of the world.
 
Even though climate change is an urgent issue, warned Bairbre de Brún (GUE/NGL, UK), “not many of our cities and governments are sharing the information that is out there”. All sectors of society need to be involved, she stressed, and climate change targets should be developed “at the local and regional levels”.

"Greening up" urban transport

Prompted by a question from Committee Chair Guido Sacconi (PES, IT), Mr Livingstone discussed the issue of "greening up" urban transport. In central London's case, he said, this has been achieved by way of “the stick of congestion charge and the carrot of improved public transport”. Turning to biofuels, the ex-mayor said they had been used in London's transport system, but there was now concern about their potential impact, “which is not encouraging”. At this juncture, he added, “I'd put a stop on any [new] biofuels use”.