Targets for emissions cuts have not been everyone’s cup of tea, with the likes of French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, warning the all Europeans of the financial risks of a tough climate strategy. Called the Draft Energy and Climate Proposal, it is indeed a relatively tough prescription for the future. So what in essence does this mean for les hommes et les femmes in the street?

The broad ambition is to see emissions cuts of at least 20% by 2020; in some cases these will rise to 30% if non EU states drop out from the Kyoto protocol. These cuts will be hard to achieve without some form of rationing or individual Carbon Tax, although the “T” word is something a lot of people, especially politicians, are reluctant to talk about.

But tax can work both ways where incentives are involved.. In the UK, the first tax exemption for Carbon Neutral homes came when the UK Government dropped Stamp Duty on houses that meet this tough criteria. The new proposal have also extended slightly smaller cuts to businesses not previously included in the old regime, such as buildings and transport and agriculture and waste management services. You may think it odd that these elements have not so far been included but at least it will bring the greening of our European community closer to home.

Biofuels are of course on the EU menu and they have upped the target quota to 10% usage by 2020. This will definitely mean more Biofuel on our forecourt, which hopefully will not put more pressure on our farmers to cut food production in favour of growing fuel. The EU is determined to take a global lead on the cuts in emissions. And while today’s politicians seem happy to champion targets that tomorrow’s politicians will have to meet, we at least have progress.

Meanwhile the figures and gestures get bigger and bigger; it may not surprise you to hear that cuts of up to 60% are targeted for 2050 and beyond. This means very radical switches to alternatives and more or less the whole sale re-invention of our energy production plans. Good news for a cleaner planet? Let’s not forget that the average Nuclear Power station will take 30 years to come on stream, so a lifetime of personal CO2 reductions and efficiencies will be needed before we can wean ourselves off the black stuff.