Strasbourg hike leaves big footprint, say Greens

Dividing European Parliament working time between Brussels and Strasbourg is damaging the environment and undermining EU commitments to cut greenhouse gas emissions, according to a report from the European Green party.

The report, published yesterday (25 April), finds that maintaining two Parliamentary seats produces between 20,000 and 30,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.

The emissions are generated by Parliament-ary staff, MEPs and journalists travelling between Brussels and Strasbourg every month, as well as heating and lighting a second building.

A spokeswoman for Parliament President Hans-Gert Pöttering said the seats question would not be opened at this stage. "The member states decided to have two seats and Parliament has to respect the law," she said.

She added that Pöttering would however closely examine the possibilities of making Parliament more energy efficient.

Dividing European Parliament working time between Brussels and Strasbourg is damaging the environment and undermining EU commitments to cut greenhouse gas emissions, according to a report from the European Green party.