Two EU parliament seats bad for climate

By Jeff Mason

STRASBOURG, France (Reuters) - The European Union emits 20,268 extra tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) a year by holding parliamentary sessions in France and Belgium, according to a report on Wednesday.

That amount is equivalent to 13,000 return transatlantic flights and is more CO2 than some small island countries emit on their own, said the European Parliament's Greens party which commissioned the study.

The report said lawmakers' monthly commute from their base in Brussels to their second home in Strasbourg hurt the bloc's credibility in fighting climate change in addition to costing taxpayers more than 200 million euros (136 million pounds) a year.

"How can we possibly be telling others to reduce their emissions if we're not getting our house in order first?" said Caroline Lucas, a British member of the Greens.

A few thousand parliament members, aides, interpreters, lobbyists and journalists make the monthly trek to Strasbourg -- where plenary sessions are held -- by plane, train and car.

The report analysed the climate impact from such transport emissions. It also looked at energy usage in the assembly's buildings in Brussels and Strasbourg and estimated what could be saved by having only one seat.

Under a 1992 EU treaty, the parliament must hold at least 12 four-day plenary sessions a year in the French city, and France is keen to keep the assembly in its territory.

German conservative lawmaker Bernd Posselt defended the Strasbourg seat and said the Brussels location, where the European Commission is based, should be dropped.