Financial Times: Poland vetoes EU emissions plan

The European Union’s climate change policy was thrown into disarray when Poland vetoed a plan supported by 26 other member states to identify targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions after 2020.

Poland, which is heavily dependent on coal, one of the most polluting sources of energy, resisted entreaties from fellow member states all week, and then refused to budge during a meeting of environment ministers in Brussels on Friday.

“Everyone tried to accommodate different Polish wishes, but in the end, they blocked,” said Connie Hedegaard, Europe’s climate commissioner. Ms Hedegaard also suggested the Poles had not been fair negotiating partners, saying it was difficult to find a compromise because “goalposts are always moving”.  MORE