Tal
EU-USA toppmöte, Prag, Tjeckien 5 april 2009
Fredrik Reinfeldt, Statsminister

Tal av statsminister Fredrik Reinfeldt om klimat och energi vid EU-USA toppmöte, på engelska

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Prime Minister Topolanek, President Obama,

Thank you for bringing us together here in Prague. Climate change and energy security are high on the agenda both in the European Union and in the United States.

Coming generations will measure us by what we do now to shape their tomorrow.

We therefore warmly welcome the new US administration's approach to climate change and its recognition of science as a basis for policy decisions.

We share the view that the financial crisis should be used as an opportunity to restructure the economy and start down the path to low-carbon growth.

The EU appreciates the fact that the US administration has been clear on the importance of reaching an agreement in Copenhagen in December 2009. We should work together to achieve that end.

Copenhagen is of critical importance as the first step in catalysing the global shift to a low-carbon economy that limits global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius.

An agreement must this time encompass the vast majority of global emissions.

The EU has made its commitment to a 30 per cent reduction by 2020, if other industrialised countries commit to comparable efforts, because it responds to scientific advice, and it is economically prudent.

We have already taken note of the US ambition to reduce emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. We also note that Congressional efforts may go even further, reducing emissions by 6 per cent according to a recently introduced bill.

We encourage such efforts. Its sends out an extremely important signal, both to emerging economies and to other industrialised countries, including the European Union.

It is not only about targets, it is also about how to get there. Pricing mechanisms, such as cap and trade, are the basic driving forces for energy saving, efficiency measures and the development of clean technology . As leaders we must act in such a way that we get a relevant price on carbon emissions.

The climate issue calls for a strong global leadership. I will, during the Swedish presidency, be personally dedicated to leading the EU in close cooperation with you (President Obama) and the US, in order to push the international negotiations to a successful conclusion in Copenhagen.

I believe we need to intensify our bilateral EU-US dialogue. We should look at key issues, such as financing and what actions and measures to expect from emerging economies. The dialogue should proceed quickly and we would ask for a report at the next EU-US summit.

Thank you.