Brussels, 25/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - Renewable energy and energy efficiency are seen by the European Parliament's energy committee as key to moving to a carbon-free energy system by 2050.
In a draft resolution adopted on Thursday 24 January 2013 based on a report by Niki Tzavela (EFD, Greece) on the energy roadmap for 2050 unveiled by the European Commission in December 2012, the energy committee says that renewable energy and increased energy efficiency are “no regret options” for achieving a low-carbon system and urge the Commission to explore the scenario of a high proportion of renewable energy and energy savings in a post-2020 strategy compatible with the agenda of phasing out carbon from the EU by 2050. This will require carbon emission reduction, renewable energy and energy efficiency milestones and targets, in order to draw up an ambitious, stable regulatory framework. The draft resolution says it will also require pan-European governance.
The MEPs say that natural gas can play an important role in the short and medium-term in transforming the energy system because it is relatively profitable and less polluting than other forms of fossil fuels.
The draft resolution will be voted upon in plenary in March. (EH/transl.fl)