European Union flags are seen outside the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels October 14, 2018. — Reuters picBRUSSELS, April 1 — Nine members of the expert group advising the European Union on its sustainable finance rules have threatened to step down if Brussels pushes ahead with plans that they say would discredit its efforts to fight climate change.
Nine members of the 67-person “platform” advising the EU on the rules wrote to the Commission on Wednesday, saying the latest leaked proposal contradicted climate science and created reputational risks for them. The letter said the Commission’s proposed rules for gas, bioenergy and forestry would “openly discredit” EU goals to cut planet-warming emissions.
“We have a once-in-a-decade opportunity to do something right,” said Monique Goyens, director general of the non-profit European Consumer Organisation, another signatory.