EU energy and climate change strategy

doi:10.1016/j.energy.2012.01.012

Energy

Volume 40, Issue 1, April 2012, Pages 19-22

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2012.01.012 Get rights and content

Abstract

This paper will summarise the European Strategy for Energy and Climate Change. In current international negotiations Europe has proposed a 20% reduction in GHG (greenhouse gases) in the developed countries by 2020 or 30% should there be an international agreement in the domain. However it is important to define measures to achieve the targets. One of the principal tools is to improve energy efficiency under the energy efficiency action plan, which will help to achieve a 20% energy saving by 2020. On the other hand, the amount of energy from renewable sources consumed in Europe will have to rise from its current level of 8.5%–20% by 2020.

These are ambitious but achievable targets. Nonetheless, these can only be achieved through strong investment in areas of the knowledge triangle which strengthens research and innovation in the energy sector in Europe. The paper covers European Energy and Climate Change Policy, the European Strategic Energy Technology plan, the consequences of the Lisbon Treaty, European and national Road maps to a low carbon economy, the Energy Efficiency Plan for 2011 and finishes with a brief consideration of the EU’s energy infrastructure priorities.

Highlights

► This paper summarises the European Strategy for Energy and Climate Change. ► Reduction of GHG emissions by 30%-international agreement or −20% without agreement. ► Use of 20% of renewable energies by 2020. ► Increase of energy efficiency of 20% by 2020. ► Consolidating of the internal energy market.

Introduction

Europe will have to confront a number of major challenges in the twenty-first century, something that will have a direct impact on Europe and its place in the world. These challenges include, amongst others, energy security, the ageing of the population and climate change.

In so far as climate change is concerned, there is, today, overall consensus on the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions globally by 50% by 2050. This represents a cut of at least 80% in the industrialised world. This will mean, from now until 2050, considerable re-organisation of the way in which society works (work, transport, leisure, city planning, housing, electricity production). Taken separately, these challenges are threats that we have to face. However taken together, they can be seen as opportunities for a far-reaching transformation of our society. Furthermore, given the finite nature of oil reserves, fundamental societal changes will need to be driven by EU policies over the next decades.

There is considerable optimism that a global agreement in the fight against climate change will be reached in the near future, hopefully in South Africa in 2011. The European proposal for an international agreement consists of a cut of 30% of greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 by comparison with levels of 2005. In order to show its commitment, Europe has proposed a unilateral target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20%. The target will be achieved through the use of 20% of renewable energies and an increase of energy efficiency of 20% by 2020.

The paper aims at summarising the European strategic vision on energy and climate change as a chance to reshape society in a more sustainable, cooperative and equitable manner, enabling the European economy to prosper while ensuring energy security and fighting climate change. To this end, this paper will summarise existing energy and climate change policy (including the European Strategic Energy Technology plan). It will then go on to briefly discuss the changes brought about by the Lisbon Treaty, something that will enable Europe to strengthen existing energy and climate change policy. Thirdly, the paper will describe current work to further European integration with regard to these policies. This section will discuss the roadmap to a low carbon economy by 2050, the 2011 Energy Efficiency Plan and the EU’s energy efficiency infrastructure priorities for 2020. The last section will be a brief description of policy challenges and budgetary resources for the period following 2013.

Section snippets

The five pillars of European energy and climate change policy

The European energy and climate change policy was adopted by the Council and the Parliament in 2008. The main objective of the energy and climate package is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% in the case of an international agreement or 20% if there is no agreement. When compared with levels of 2005, this is an essential first step on the road to the ultimate goal of reducing global emissions by at least 50% below 1990 levels by 2050.

As a result of the energy climate package, Europe’s

European Strategic Energy Technology plan

The objectives of the energy and climate change strategy can only be achieved through major investment in areas of the knowledge triangle: reinforcing research, education and innovation in the energy sector in Europe. In November 2007, the European Commission proposed a European Strategic Energy Technology plan – the SET-Plan – to establish a new research agenda for Europe in the energy area.

Energy technologies will be crucial to ensuring energy supply for Europe and the world. To achieve the

The Lisbon treaty

The climate and the Energy package was approved in 2008 in spite of the fact that the treaties considered energy a responsibility of the Members States. This perspective changed with the Lisbon Treaty that entered into force in 1 December 2009. The Lisbon Treaty gives new powers to Europe and to EU citizens to act in several policy areas of great importance such as the areas of energy, climate change and scientific research. These policies are at the heart of the Europe 2020 initiative, an

Roadmap to a low carbon economy in 2050

Climate change is among the largest environmental, social and economic challenges currently facing mankind. It is also a cross boarder problem requiring coherent EU action. The European Institutions are actually looking beyond the 2020 objectives and setting out a plan to meet the long-term target of reducing domestic emissions by 80–95% by mid-century. The sectors responsible for Europe’s emission – power generation, industry, transport, buildings and construction – must all prepare the

Energy efficiency plan 2011

The EU is on the way to achieving its targets for 2020 of reducing emissions to 20% below 1990 levels whilst raising the share of renewables by 20%. However, much greater efforts are needed to improve energy efficiency by 20%. The objectives for GHG emissions reduction and the share of renewables are binding. This will enable the EU to outperform the current 20% emission reduction target and achieve a 25% reduction. By contrast, the energy efficiency objective (20%) is not a binding target and

Energy infrastructure priorities for 2020

In order to implement the energy strategy described in the above sections, a new EU energy infrastructure policy is needed. An integrated European grid will bring enormous benefits in terms of security of supply and the stabilisation of consumer prices. Business and citizens will have access to clean, secure and affordable energy contributing to maintaining a strong, diversified and competitive industrial base in Europe [4].

Europe will define priority corridors for the transport of electricity,

Policy challenges and budgetary resources for a sustainable European union after 2013

Energy security and the fight against climate change in Europe will require major and sustained investment in Europe. Public private financing mechanisms are key to overcoming initial financing risks and cash flow barriers. The European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development – as well as dedicated funding in the next Multi-Annual Financial Framework – should play a role in providing additional financing for energy efficient and low carbon technologies [1]. The

Conclusions

The ambitious targets that Europe has set in order to combat climate change are conditional on international agreements. There is considerable hope that a global agreement will be reached before the end of this year, however. Although climate change is one of the many challenges that Europe has to face at the beginning of the twenty-first century, these challenges can also be seen as a chance to introduce reforms that will help shape a sustainable, cooperative and equitable Europe, enabling the

References (6)

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee...
Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee...
European Council Conclusions, 4th February...

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^☆: Invited keynote paper from the 24th International Conference on Efficiency, Cost, Optimization, Simulation and Environmental Impact of Energy Systems – ECOS 2011.

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EU energy and climate change strategy☆