Europe has made substantial progress in reducing its greenhouse gas emissions - by almost 20 per cent compared to 1990 - since the Kyoto protocol was signed in 1997. The EU’s share of global greenhouse gas emissions has decreased and is forecast to fall even further from the present level of some 11 per cent, even if this is partly due to the enduring economic slowdown and to the increase in greenhouse gas emissions from emerging economies.
However, the challenges ahead, as presented by the intergovernmental panel on climate change, are all the more serious and require urgent action. The European economic and social committee (EESC) broadly agrees with the objectives set for the EU’s climate and energy policies up to 2030, including the 40 per cent greenhouse gas reduction target and the 27 per cent renewables share. However, the committee is convinced that Europe must go further on some points.
The EESC is calling for specific national renewable targets as the only transparent and effective way to achieve the 2030 target, because the situation and preconditions differ from country to country. Local collective renewable energy projects, civic renewable energy in particular, should be actively encouraged. It is of the utmost importance to ensure that the most effective measures are used in order to reach targets with minimum negative economic or social impacts.
"The balancing act is to achieve climate protection while also boosting Europe’s economy and guaranteeing security and affordability of supply"
Clearly, all efficient measures to cut greenhouse gas emissions are needed. As such, EU policies must provide the possibility for those countries that wish to complement the use of renewables with other low carbon and cost-efficient energy sources, such as nuclear power or indigenous resources, including unconventional gases, in their national plans.
Civil society represents both producers and consumers, and must be involved in designing national energy plans. The EESC is promoting a European energy dialogue with the involvement of civil society organisations as a communication, discussion and action platform able to bridge and - where necessary - align member states’ energy policies.
The balancing act is to achieve climate protection while also boosting Europe’s economy and guaranteeing security and affordability of supply. The EU will only succeed if energy policy becomes more European, that is, comprising the mandatory consultation, coordination and cooperation between member states before far-reaching decisions are taken.
The creation of a genuine European energy community and a fully functioning internal energy market is crucial. No single member state can meet the challenges ahead on its own.
A special focus must be placed on energy efficiency as one of the most effective ways of reaching the EU’s energy and climate goals. Sector-specific EU targets, for instance in the building sector, could be considered for tapping this huge potential.
The EESC supports the overhauling of the EU emission trading system (ETS), provided that sufficient attention is given to the competitiveness aspects. Industrial sectors at risk of carbon leakage need special support measures. However, the long-term goal must be the creation of a fully-fledged international carbon market and Europe must do everything in its power to achieve this objective.
By far the most important task now is to reach an ambitious international agreement and ensure its implementation. If this is not achieved in Paris next year, the EU could be forced to reconsider its own policies. Furthermore, adapting to climate change should be the focus of much more attention and action.