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One week after the impasse in the Environment Council, the European Parliament has adopted its views on the 2050 Low-Carbon Roadmap. Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) backed the European Commission’s proposals to set 2030, 2040, and 2050 milestones to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Europe. No changes in the 2020 targets were endorsed, but there was a call on the Commission to amend the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) if necessary. Binding renewable energy targets in 2030 and border adjustment measures have also been endorsed by MEPs… (More on www.eurelectric.orgin Daily News – Password needed)
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On 8 March the European Commission adopted the ‘Road map for building a competitive low‐carbon Europe by 2050′. The roadmap identifies the optimal way for the EU to domestically reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. Though not legally binding, the roadmap sets interim targets for 2030 (‐40%) and 2040 (‐60%), while the 2020 target could be overshot by meeting the current 20% energy efficiency target.
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On 8 March the European Commission is scheduled to publish a communication paving the way for a low‐carbon economy in 2050. A leaked draft indicates that, in order to be on track with the overall EU objective to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 in the range of 80 to 95% compared to 1990 levels, a cost‐effective and gradual transition would require a 40% domestic reduction of GHG emissions compared to 1990 as a milestone for 2030, and 80% for 2050. Major reductions would come from the power sector, ranging between 54% to 68% by 2030 and a massive 93% to 99% by 2050 compared to 1990.
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EURELECTRIC officially unveiled its 5th Energy Wisdom Programme (EWP) Report on 4 May at a European Parliament event on “The Role of Energy Efficiency in Europe 2020”. “To achieve our carbon-neutrality objective, a paradigm shift to energy efficient technologies will be needed. The Electricity Industry thus needs EU institutions to take a leading role in Energy Efficiency and is willing to work in close cooperation with policy-makers in that perspective”, EURELECTRIC Secretary General Hans ten Berge told the 100 delegates from Parliament, Commission and industry attending the event. The 5th EWP Report outlines the result of the 2008-2009 reporting cycle. Nineteen electricity companies reported some 200 projects, ranging from power generation through transmission & distribution to end-use energy efficiency, thus contributing to the avoidance of some 180 MTCO2 eq. and saving about 18 Mtoe in primary fuel. Hosting the event, Lena Ek MEP declared “Energy Efficiency has a key role to play in achieving the Europe 2020 targets. European industry can save vast amounts of money and reduce carbon emissions if companies disseminate best practice in energy efficiency. Therefore, I strongly believe that we should encourage innovation that leads to greater energy efficiency in the private sector”.
Carbon-neutral electricity in Europe by 2050 is attainable through the market system. For this to become reality, policymakers must support the carbon market so as to deliver the CO2 cap at least cost, work for an international agreement on climate change action, ensure that all sectors internalise the cost of greenhouse gas emissions, and enable the use of all low-carbon power technology options. However, the key to Europe’s low-carbon future will be on the demand side, where a paradigm shift is needed away from direct use of fossil fuels towards energy-efficient electric systems and technologies, including electric road vehicles and electric heat pumps in spatial heating and cooling.
These are the key points emerging from a new EURELECTRIC study – Power Choices: Pathways to Carbon-Neutral Electricity in Europe by 2050 – unveiled at the European Parliament in Brussels on 10 November.
EURELECTRIC delegates joined representatives from industry, finance, government, EU bodies and academia at a conference – Climate Change: Implementing a Coordinated Response in Central Europe and around the Globe – hosted in Prague on 23-24 April by Czech power company Cez and the International Emission Trading Association. Speakers discussed implementation of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) for the 2013-2020 period, and developments towards an international post-2012 climate regime.
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