Brussels, Belgium – Floods and mudslides in the Alps and Danube basin, fires in the Iberian Peninsula, drought destroying crops in France, Spain and Portugal — these are signals of a world suffering from climate change.

“To reduce the likelihood of these horrible weather events happening more often, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions must be reduced,” said Jennifer Morgan Director of the WWF Climate Change Programme.

According to a new WWF paper, it is in the power sector, the largest emitter of CO2, where Europe must address the increase and severity of recent extreme weather events and their disastrous consequences.

The paper, Climate change and extreme weather events in Europe, provides the latest scientific findings on this issue, addressing such direct factors as land use and water management.

Direct emergency help for the people concerned must be the main immediate focus, but in order to reduce the frequency and intensity of such events in the future, political and business leaders must decide to rapidly reduce CO2 emissions. To cut CO2 emissions, Europe should start with the biggest emitters, the electricity producers.

The power sector is responsible for 37 per cent of global and 39 per cent of European CO2 emissions (CO2 is emitted when fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas are being burnt). The German power producer RWE, for instance, is expected to decide this autumn on building a new coal-fired power station, the worst option for the climate

“The largest European climate polluter, RWE, continues to plan for new coal power stations, which drive up global warming,” added Morgan. “European governments can and must stop this.”

The obvious way for European governments to enforce strict pollution limits is under the European Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). Since January 2005, the ETS has placed CO2 limits on big companies. Unfortunately, EU governments have so far agreed only to weak limits.

Tough pollution limits, combined with a powerful financial incentive to invest in cleaner, more efficient technologies, would transform the power sector and reduce CO2 emissions. With the ETS being reviewed this year, WWF sees this as a vital opportunity to get it right.

“Climate change has started to exacerbate the frequency and intensity of these weather catastrophes,” said Oliver Rapf, Head of Climate change unit at WWF’s European Policy Office.

“European politicians need to cut down emissions from the power sector now.”

Original press release: WWF: Floods and Fires – Natural Disasters Linked to Power Sector (WWF)