European Commission Proposes an Integrated Energy and Climate Change Package to Cut Emissions for the 21st Century

Business Wire, Jan 10, 2007

WASHINGTON -- The European Commission today proposed a comprehensive new Energy Policy for Europe to combat climate change and boost the European Union's energy security and competitiveness. Setting a series of ambitious targets on greenhouse gas emissions and renewable energy, the package of proposals aims to create a true internal market for energy and strengthen effective regulation. The Commission believes that when an international agreement is reached on the post-2012 framework this should lead to a 30% cut in emissions from developed countries by 2020. To further underline its commitment the Commission proposes that the European Union commits now to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20% by 2020, in particular through energy measures.

"Today marks a step change for the European Union. Energy policy was a core area at the start of the European project," said Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso. "We must now return it to center stage. The challenges of climate change, increasing import dependence and higher energy prices are faced by all EU members. A common European response is necessary to deliver sustainable, secure and competitive energy. The proposals put forward by the Commission today demonstrate our commitment to leadership and a long-term vision for a new Energy Policy for Europe that responds to climate change. We must act now, to shape tomorrow's world."

"If we take the right decisions now," Commissioner for Energy Policy, Andris Piebalgs said, "Europe can lead the world to a new industrial revolution: the development of a low carbon economy. Our ambition to create a working internal market, to promote a clean and efficient energy mix and to make the right choices in research and development will determine whether we lead this new scenario or we follow others."

Stavros Dimas, Commissioner for the Environment said: "Climate change is one of the gravest threats to our planet. Acting against climate change is imperative. Today, we have agreed on a set of ambitious, but realistic targets which will support our global efforts to contain climate change and its most dire consequences. I urge the rest of the developed world to follow our lead, match our reductions and accelerate progress towards an international agreement on the global emission reductions."

Europe faces real challenges. There is a more than a 50% chance that global temperatures will rise during this century by more than 5x Celsius. On current projections, energy and transport policies would mean that rather than falling, EU emissions would increase by around 5% by 2030. With current trends and policies, the EU's energy import dependence will jump from 50% of total EU energy consumption today to 65% in 2030. In addition, the internal energy market remains incomplete which prevents EU citizens and the EU economy from receiving the full benefits of energy liberalization.

The package proposed by the Commission today seeks to provide solutions to these challenges.

For further information and details on each facet of the package, please visit: http://www.eurunion.org/