Brussels, 14/03/2013 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament is placing renewable energies and energy efficiency at the centre of its strategy for moving towards a carbon-free system by 2050.
In a resolution adopted by 377 votes to 195, with 37 abstentions, on Thursday 14 March, on the basis of the report by Niki Tzavela (ELD, Greece) on the 2050 energy roadmap presented in December 2012, the European Parliament supports the conclusion that increased deployment of renewables, energy efficiency and energy infrastructure are the “no regret” options for achieving a decarbonised energy system. MEPs invite the Commission to explore a “combined high renewables and high energy efficiency scenario”, and call for a post-2020 strategy that is compatible with the EU's 2050 decarbonisation agenda. This requires milestones and targets on carbon emissions, renewable energies and energy efficiency in order to establish a legal and regulatory framework that is “ambitious and stable”. It also requires “pan-European governance”, MEPs say.
The Parliament considers, moreover, that natural gas will play a major short- and medium-term role in transforming the energy system as it is relatively more cost-efficient and less polluting than the other fossil fuels.
Greens regret lack of audacity. In a press release, the environmental group accuses the Parliament of not setting a course for European energy policy by giving way to the most conservative opinions, not only on the subject of the contribution made to the roadmap by fossil fuels but also the contribution made by nuclear power. Yannick Jadot of France regretted that his peers, from both Left and Right of the political spectrum, had given way to pressure exerted by oil industry lobbies. His compatriot, Yves Cohet, bemoaned the importance given to nuclear fuel in the road map and to carbon storage, which he argued are dangerous and costly techniques. (EH/transl.jl)