Ecology, Energy, EU – Baltic States, Legislation

The doubters have been wrong: EU member states approved the proposal to cut CO2 emissions by 40% to 2030 with the unanimous backing of the European Council. This 2030 package is very good news the EU’s efforts to combat climate change.

European Union is a recognized and ambitious leader in cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Being ambitious proves that the EU is presently going from a goal of 20% cut by 2020 compared to 1990 to 40% by 2030; therefore doubling the effort. The EU leaders feel indeed very ambitious, through the target seems very achievable.

Good for business

The reduction is also good for Europe's competitiveness because it keeps business on the path towards a low carbon economy and green growth, with the necessary financial support and solidarity. The economic case for fighting climate change is clear: failing to act is far more costly in the long run.

This agreement is also vital for the European energy security. By cutting emissions, increasing renewables to at least 27% and saving energy, the EU member states reduce dependency on imported fossil fuels from unstable or unreliable suppliers. That is why the EU will speed up strategic energy infrastructure and interconnections too in order to create a real internal energy market. Hence, the Council confirmed too the Commission’s proposal on having a 15% increase by 2030 on energy interconnections. These physical infrastructures are critically important for the real functioning of the internal market.

Climate talks

The CO2 reduction agreement keeps Europe firmly in the driving seat in the international climate talks ahead of the Paris Summit in 2015 and the very close meeting in Lima; the EU has set the example which others should follow.

Europe accounts for only 11% of global emissions, therefore the EU forces all others to step up their efforts. At the summit on climate change organised by the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in September 2014 in New York at the time of the General Assembly, the EU’s leadership was acknowledged. The UN Secretary-General and all progressive forces wanted to see a real global commitment to save the planet.

Therefore, the EU’s initiative sets the standards very high and it will drive others in the right direction, because big economies need to join the European Union in these ambitious commitments.

The present agreement builds on the initial 2007 proposal: at that time there were many voices that were saying that it was impossible and that it was too much, that it was excessive. The reality is that the energy and climate package suggested at that time is now included in the present agreement.

An integrated climate and energy policy has been an important direction in the work of the EU climate commissioner. Now, the European Union has changed both the nature of the debate and the reality on the ground. There is however a lot of work to do so that in Paris in 2015 all member states can see a major breakthrough.

See: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-14-719_en.htm

Commission’s opinion

Commenting on the agreement, Connie Hedegaard said that as the EU climate action commissioner she was very proud that 28 EU leaders, despite economic uncertainty and other severe international crises, were able to get their act together on the pressing climate challenge.

A binding 40% CO2 reduction effort domestically in Europe is not an easy task. It can only be achieved through a major transformation in all parts of the society. That is why the EU leaders' decision to adopt the Commission's proposal is an ambitious and important step forward: important both for Europe and the rest of the world.

“We have sent a strong signal to other big economies and all other countries: we have done our homework, now we urge you to follow Europe's example”, she added.

In order to get Europe on the right track towards a low-carbon society, it is extremely important that the leaders also accepted the renewables target binding at the EU level just as the Commission proposed. And it is good that they agreed to do more on energy efficiency, although here the Commission wanted more appositive actions.

Now the direction towards 2030 has been set: EU states, regions, municipalities, businesses, investors and citizens now all know the directions to go which is very positive for Europe's climate politics.

Reference: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-14-337_en.htm