Brussels, 25/07/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 23 July, the environmental NGOs Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth strongly criticised the objective proposed by the European Commission of 30% energy savings by 2030, in addition to the objectives proposed in January for the whole 2030 framework (a binding objective of 40% for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and an objective of at least 27% for the share of renewable energy) (see EUROPE 11127).
“In its dying days, the outgoing Commission has tabled another gutless plan on energy that is a gift to the oligarchs of this world. An ambitious efficiency target would drastically cut the need for expensive imports of fossil fuels from Russia and elsewhere, and help Europe stand up to bullies like [Russia's President Vladimir] Putin. The Commission's own research shows efficiency could also create three-and-a-half million jobs, while helping tackle climate change. It's a no-brainer that EU leaders cannot ignore”, said Greenpeace.
In the view of Friends of the Earth, the proposed target is “bafflingly weak”. The NGO criticises the Commission's decision to ignore its own analysis, which shows that a 40% objective would bring major economic and environmental advantages for improving energy security, stimulating employment and fighting against climate change.
Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth call for three binding objectives for 2030, and for much higher levels than those proposed: 55% for GHG emissions, 45% for renewables, and 40% for energy efficiency. The future president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, supports a binding objective of at least 30% and, in June, Germany, Denmark, Belgium, Ireland, Greece, Portugal and Luxembourg wrote to the Commission to ask for an ambitious and binding performance target, the NGOs point out. Greenpeace criticises the fact that “Europe's largest energy companies have been lobbying hard to avoid a meaningful EU energy efficiency target”. (EH)