Brussels, 23/11/2015 (Agence Europe) - 11 NGOs active in the European electricity sector are urging the 196 parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to conclude an ambitious agreement at the COP 21 in Paris (30 November-11 December).
Their appeal was launched at the end of the annual European Network of Transmission System Operators' (ENTSO-E) conference on Friday 20 November in Brussels.
In a joint press release, the NGOs from the sector set out the ingredients they believe necessary for an ambitious climate agenda that will help the sector complete its ongoing transition: higher energy efficiency; generation largely and increasingly based on renewable energy sources; electrification of transport, heating and cooling; an efficiently used and where necessary expanded high voltage grid respectful of nature conservation objectives; smarter transmission and distribution grids; smart meters; empowered consumers via demand side response; electricity storage; and a fit for purpose interface between the transmission and distribution levels of the electricity system.
The signatories of the press release was addressed to the Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, Christiana Figueres and copied to Maroš Šefèoviè, vice-president for Energy Union, and Miguel Arias Canete, commissioner for climate action and energy at the European Commission.
The signatories of this joint communiqué actively and concretely support the energy transition and are urging the 196 parties to the COP 21, as well as the European Union, to agree on a strong climate agenda. They consider this as the very condition for a future-proof and ambitious regulatory framework able to drive the necessary public and private investment in the power sector to effectively and rapidly fight climate change. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)