Brussels, 09/01/2014 (Agence Europe) - MEPs from the European Parliament's environment and industry committees want a high level of ambition and binding medium-term objectives for the EU's climate/energy policies up to 2030. On Thursday 9 January, the two committees jointly voted for three binding objectives: a minimum 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (GHE) compared to the 1990 level; 40% energy efficiency and at least 30% of renewable energies to be included in the EU's total energy consumption.
The draft resolution was adopted by a small majority (66 votes to 42, with 3 abstentions) and forms the EP's contribution to the coming debate on the new climate legislative package that the European Commission is expected to publish on 22 January, as a means to establish a framework for an integrated climate/energy policy up to 2030. Uncertainty surrounded the vote up until the last minute on a marathon of around 900 different amendments due to the significant division between supporters of the trio of binding objectives and those arguing in favour of a single greenhouse gas reduction target (see EUROPE 10975).
After the “three 20s”, as the 2008 climate package up to 2020 had become known (20% reduction in GHE, 20% energy efficiency and 20% renewables, with just the first target being binding), the time has now come for the 40/40/30. The rapporteur, Anne Delvaux (EPP, Belgium) was delighted and stated that “it was important to continue the work begun in the 20/20/20 framework, which already contains three targets, by learning from the youthful errors made previously in this framework! This is exactly what the members of the joint committees have done by giving their support”.
Claude Turnes MEP (Greens/EFA, Luxembourg), the Greens' spokesman for climate and energy emphasised that “2030 is the next crucial milestone for EU climate and energy policy… today's vote is an important and timely signal. We hope the Commission takes account of this… Clear and ambitious targets would provide much-needed investor certainty, not only in the energy sector but for industrial sectors and innovation across Europe”. He did, however, point out that what they needed was a 60% reduction in emissions by 2030, so that the the EU is not to repeat the mistake made “with the lack of ambition in its 2020 greenhouse gas reduction target, as this has undermined the effectiveness of overall climate policy and key instruments like the emissions trading scheme”. He also said that aiming for 45% by 2030 would be “realistic” for renewable energies in total energy production. (AN/transl.fl)