EU Climate Policy

13. Feb. 2013

The EU can and must be a climate leader

EU leaders have agreed to a binding target of a 20% reduction of carbon emissions levels by 2020 compared to 1990 levels. The EU is already on its way to achieving its climate target. The Greens/EFA group thus pushes the EU to increase its own domestic climate ambition and set itself a binding target of at least 30% by 2020. Such a decision would foster the green economy, incite investment in renewable energy sources and create green jobs. By raising its emissions target the EU would also strongly encourage the rest of the world to take further climate action and give some momentum to international climate discussions.

Introduction

EU CLIMATE POLICY

10. Jun. 2014 blog

Greens demand to stop fossil fuel subsidies such as through Export Finance for Coal Fuelled Power plants

This week the European Commission will be discussing an unofficial DG Trade proposal on Export Finance and Coal Fuelled Power plants. The Greens have big concerns that this proposal, once adopted, would be ruining Europe's climate credibility in the run-up to the COP 2015 negotiations.  

04. Jun. 2014 studies

Ecofys/ FOEE's short analysis of the Parliament's resolution on 2030 climate and energy package

The resolution of the European Parliament of 5 February 2014 supporting a 30% share of renewables in final energy consumption by 2030 and a 40% energy savings target (“30%/40% target”) is likely to lead to greenhouse gas emission reductions in 2030 in the range between 45% and 54% compared to 1990 levels. This is estimated by Ecofys commissioned by Friends of the Earth. The resolution itself states a minimum greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of 40%, compared to 1990 levels. Earlier, the European Commission had made a proposal for supporting a 27% share of renewables in final energy consumption and 25% energy savings and at least 40% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030.  

04. Jun. 2014 studies

LEGAL OPINION LEGAL ASSESSMENT OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION'S PROPOSAL FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY POLICY BEYOND 2020

On January 22, 2014, the European Commission presented their proposal for a climate and energy package for 2030. However, unlike under the current Renewable Energy Directive 2009/28/EC, there would not be any national targets for the Member States, but only this one overall target for all Member States together to reach. Without national targets, questions have arisen as to how the European Commission is going to ensure that the binding EU-level target of at least 27% renewable is in fact reached, e.g. as the European Union has no territory of its own on which to build renewable energy power plants, or what can be done if it is not reached.  

04. Jun. 2014 studies

Assessing the EU 2030 Climate and Energy targets

On 22 January 2014, the European Commission put forward 2030 energy and clime targets of a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (compared to 1990) and a share of 27% renewables in final energy consumption. This Briefing Paper contains the most important conclusions of an assessment of these targets, as analysed by Ecofys and commissioned by the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament.