At the end of July the European commission missed an opportunity. Their energy efficiency communication could have proposed action that would create more jobs, help to increase European energy security and provide an ambitious level of energy savings to help tackle climate change.
Instead they produced a proposal for a 30 per cent by 2030 energy savings target. This is nowhere near the higher level of ambition required to tap into the unexploited energy efficiency potential in Europe. What could this missed opportunity mean for EU citizens?
The commission says that the 30 per cent target strikes a good balance between the costs and the benefits. To prove their point, they have focused on how much more a higher target would cost, while downplaying the extra benefits that more ambition would bring.
For example, they ignore how much it will cut future reliance on energy gas imports. According to the commission’s own impact assessment, a level of ambition of 35 to 40 per cent energy savings would cut gas imports by 33 to 40 per cent compared to only 22 per cent under the 30 per cent energy savings target. Fossil fuel import bills would be reduced by €549bn instead of €395bn in the period between 2011 and 2030.
"It is not just the direct benefits to the energy system that have been overlooked but also other indirect benefits, such as those related to increased GDP and the creation of more jobs"
It is not just the direct benefits to the energy system that have been overlooked but also other indirect benefits, such as those related to increased GDP and the creation of more jobs. Effects on pollution control and health costs are also nowhere to be found in the commission’s current analysis.
Earlier analysis shows that energy savings, as part of an ambitious climate and energy package, would lead to reduced pollution control costs. Less energy required from polluting energy plants will mean cleaner air and a healthier environment for European people. Why did the commission not deem these as relevant?
Less energy demand also means reduced greenhouse gas emissions and reduced long-term costs and impacts for people and governments across the globe, as they face the challenges of climate change. Energy efficiency has been identified as one of the key solutions for mitigating climate change, as the cleanest energy is that which we don’t actually use.
Higher ambition of energy savings combined with a higher drive for renewable energy would lead to significant reductions of greenhouse gas emissions, above the current weak target of 40 per cent reductions that the commission has tabled for member states to consider later this year.
"Europe needs to establish a strong and robust policy framework that will include three binding and ambitious targets for greenhouse gas emission reductions, renewable energy and energy savings"
Climate impacts are increasing globally, including in Europe. It would therefore be unthinkable not to accelerate EU climate ambition. Europe needs to establish a strong and robust policy framework that will include three binding and ambitious targets for greenhouse gas emission reductions, renewable energy and energy savings. In October, heads of state and governments will have the opportunity to act on this need, when they meet to discuss all three targets.
At Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe, a network of more than 127 European civil society organisations, we are calling for binding EU-wide targets of at least 55 per cent greenhouse gas emission reductions, 45 per cent renewable energy share and 40 per cent energy savings. This level of ambition is needed to shift towards a truly low-carbon economy.
EU leaders have the opportunity to help us avoid catastrophic climate change while showing people the world over that Europe is committed to tackling one of the most important challenges of our age. So now the question is, will they act or will their decision be another missed opportunity?