CLIMATE change may be a natural phenomenon. Scientists cannot be certain that humans are responsible for it. But Europe is right to reduce its dependence on coal, oil and gas for its energy needs — this was the message delivered by Giles Chichester, a MEP for the South West of England, at a meeting organised by the Tamar Branch of the European Movement recently.

Mr Chichester is a long-serving member of the Parliament's committee on industry, research and energy.

He praised the European Union's ambitious '20-20-20' targets: 20% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, 20% increase in efficiency in the use of energy, and 20% share of renewables in total energy consumption, all to be achieved by the year 2020.

In the longer term, he predicted that nuclear energy would meet 40% of the EU's requirements.

While expressing the personal opinion that meeting these targets would do little to slow global warming, he said it was right that Europe should reduce its dependence on imported fuels. Investment now in alternative sources of energy, including wind, waves and tides, will encourage new industries and protect us from shortages caused by political upheavals or increasingly scarce supplies.

Mr Chichester said it was appropriate that the meeting was being held in the Tamar Valley Centre in Gunnislake, a beautiful building which was built with the assistance of funding from the EU.

The meeting was chaired by Graham Facks-Martin.

He said: 'Mr Chichester gave us exactly what was needed, a clear and authoritative account of what EU members are doing to change the pattern of energy use for the better.

'We read and hear much criticism of the EU, so it is good to be reminded that it is a practical organisation that operates under democratic control for the benefit of the states that belong to it.'