EOW May 2007

The International Magazine for the Wire and Cable Industries

Going green or flying high? S aving the environment is – quite rightly – becoming more and more of an issue around the globe. Indeed, for the UK’s main political parties the green issue is certain to be part of a hard-fought campaign in the next general election. The reason I bring this up is two related stories that I’ve read recently – one of which features in Dorothy Fabian’s ‘Transatlantic Cable’ section of this magazine. Firstly, ‘Europe is set to cut emissions sharply if the US will do likewise’, and secondly, ‘Open skies treaty’. The latter is the one Dorothy mentions in her column. The story I read in a national newspaper was about European Union ministers pledging that their countries will raise targets for curbing greenhouse gas emissions if other countries, like America, do the same. The story in ‘Transatlantic Cable’ is the tale of the EU and the US reaching an agreement on more transatlantic routes, allowing budget airlines to fly to the States. Is it me or is there something slightly contradictory about the two stories? More flights and lower fares will, inevitably, mean more greenhouse gases. Leading the (green) way in Europe is Germany, whose commitment to the environment is nothing short of extraordinary.Whilst some of the 27-block EU countries stand ready to cut emissions by 30% below 1990 levels, the leaders of Europe’s biggest economy want it extended to 40%. The European initiative is not exclusively ‘green’ in motivation. If others, notably the US, adopt European- style restrictions of emissions, it will help ensure the global competitiveness of continental businesses at a time when the EU is toughening its regulation of air travel, car manufacturing and construction. But there is no doubting the sincerity of the European determination to arrest global warming.The environmental federation ‘Friends of the Earth International’ reported that while Finland, Poland and Hungary resisted the 20% target in the renewable resources proposal, Sweden andDenmark supported the 30% target.

* US$28 purchase only Front cover: GIMAX, Italy See page 160 for further details E ditor :.......................................David Bell F eatures E ditor (USA) :........Dorothy Fabian E ditorial assistant :...............Christian Bradley D esign /P roduction :..............Julie Tomlin P roduction :.............................Lisa Benjamin S ales M anager :......................Paul Browne S ales & M arketing :...............Giuliana Benedetto (I nternational ) Italian speaking sales Hendrike Griffin German speaking sales Linda Li A dvertisement C oordinator :...........................Liz Hughes A ccounts M anager :..............Richard Babbedge S ubscriptions :.........................Liz Hughes P ublisher :.................................Caroline Sullens F ounder :...................................John C Hogg Chinese speaking sales Jeroo Vandrevala Indian sales

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The question is whether or not such examples of European virtue will be enough to coax (or shame) the world’s two leading energy gluttons – China and the US – into joining in. On past performance, the prospects would seem rather dim.

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David Bell

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