The German Minister of Economics and Energy, Peter Altmaier, underlined the key role of the energy sector in contributing to the objectives of the European Green Deal and thus “ending the contradiction between the survival of our economies and climate protection” on Tuesday 6 October, at the end of a short informal video conference of the Energy Ministers of the EU Member States.
This meeting was an opportunity for the Ministers to discuss the European Commission’s proposal to increase the greenhouse gas emission reduction target for 2030 to 55% (see EUROPE 12561/5), compared to 40% currently, as well as the impact study relating to this potential increase (see EUROPE 12562/1).
During this discussion, Member States recalled their positions already expressed at the last informal meeting of the 27 Environment Ministers (see EUROPE 12572/10).
Describing the debate as intense but constructive, Mr Altmaier said that the meeting had shown that all members strongly supported the necessity of revising the EU’s climate targets for 2030 in order to have a chance of achieving climate neutrality by 2050.
However, he also recognised that some Member States have raised concerns about the impact on their industries.
Agreeing with him, the European Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson, also stressed the importance of increasing efforts in the field of renewable energy and, above all, in terms of energy efficiency.
Although more ambitious than their provisional versions, the Member States’ national Energy/Climate plans are still inadequate in relation to the new 2030 objective proposed by the Commission (see EUROPE 12562/2, EUROPE 12563/16).
Welcoming the fact that 22 Member States are already “active” in the field of “renewable hydrogen”, she also recalled that the Commission will present its Renovation Wave initiative next week (14 October). (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)