Brussels, 27/10/2014 (Agence Europe) - High-energy consuming industries are recommending the EU to adopt a cautious approach when it comes to applying the 2020-2030 climate targets approved by heads of state and government during the night of Thursday 23 October (40% reduction in CO2 emissions, 27% improvement in energy efficiency and 27% share for renewable energies).
The International Federation of Industrial Energy Consumers (IFIEC Europe) has said that in the past, European action in the field of energy and the environment had a swift impact on European competitiveness, with 3.5 million jobs lost since 2008 and a fall of 15% in industry's contribution to European GDP. IFIEC president, Fernand Felzinger, is therefore recommending a strategy to European leaders (up to 2030), which increases industry's share by combining a balanced political approach, competitive energy prices, security of supply and environmental considerations.
In this perspective, high-energy consuming industries appreciate the fact that the Council has guaranteed free quota allocations as part of the Emissions Trading System and this continues until third countries agree to make similar efforts in this field. IFIEC is calling on member states and the EU to step up their efforts to create a binding international treaty for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, during the UN climate conference in Paris in December 2015 (COP 21). (MD)