Greenpeace EU: climate and energy

New report finds failing EU carbon market threatens effectiveness of 2030 climate proposals

edavitt — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 06:00:00 +0200

Brussels – The EU will need to make an extra seven per cent saving to its carbon emissions as part of the 2030 climate action due to the failure of the its Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), according to a new report by consultancy group Ecofys.

Under the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), industries, such as energy companies, steel and cement producers, are issued permits to emit carbon, purchasing extra permits when required and selling excess when possible. The ETS is currently suffering from a large oversupply of permits, lowering the price of carbon and undermining the incentive for industry to invest in cleaner production. The Ecofys report, The Next Step in Europe’s Climate Action: Setting Targets for 2030, finds that without EU intervention to fix the ETS, the extra seven per cent cut would be needed to ‘eat up’ the surplus of ETS carbon permits by 2030.

European ministers [1], business groups [2] and opinion leaders [3] have all highlighted that strong EU 2030 targets would help raise the record-low carbon price by increasing the demand for carbon permits. In a paper published in March, the European Commission stated 40% emissions reductions by 2030 are necessary. In May, the United Kingdom government proposed to set a 2030 emissions reduction target of 50 per cent [4]. Greenpeace is advocating a cut in excess of 55% [5].

In May, the European Council called on the Commission to table a concrete proposal so that EU leaders can debate 2030 climate and energy policies in March 2014.

Ecofys director of energy and climate policy Niklas Höhne said: “It is essential for the effectiveness of the EU’s emissions trading system that the trajectory of the EU’s greenhouse gas target until 2030 is set in a way that takes into account any pre-2020 surplus. Given the currently expected surplus, the 2030 target or the trajectory towards it would need to be significantly more stringent than otherwise.”

Greenpeace EU climate policy director Joris den Blanken said:“This report shows the 40 per cent 2030 carbon target put forward by the European Commission is woefully inadequate, especially given the impact of a failing ETS. The EU needs a stricter 2030 target if it wants to keep the ETS alive and avoid the most severe effects of climate change."

The Ecofys report also finds that the EU’s emission reductions by 2030 should be around 49 per cent of 1990 levels (midway between a range of 39% to 79%) [5]. However, these percentages do not take into account the effects of the current carbon permit surplus in the ETS and assume that the EU will deliver 25 per cent emission reductions by 2020 [6]. The report uses data on globally required emission reductions from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), as well as different widely used approaches to calculate the share of the burden between different countries.

Considering these findings, Greenpeace calls on the European Commission, the European Parliament and EU governments to support a more ambitious domestic carbon emissions goal for 2030 of at least 55 per cent (49 per cent plus the 7 per cent adjustment for the ETS). This climate target must be part of a climate and energy package including a 45 per cent target for renewable energy uptake and a binding energy savings target. These three targets can together help encourage innovation, increase resilience to high and volatile fossil fuel prices, and strengthen the Emissions Trading Scheme.

Background

On 16 April, the European Parliament rejected a proposal that would have enabled the European Commission to temporarily curb the oversupply of permits in the ETS. The proposal was instead sent back to the Parliament’s environment committee. On 19 June, the committee will hold a new vote on the temporary carbon market fix, followed by a vote in the July plenary session of the parliament.

The surplus of unused permits now represents around 1.7 billion tonnes of carbon. With continued political opposition towards short-term intervention in the ETS, the surplus is expected to grow to 2 billion tonnes by 2020 (twice the volume of all of Germany’s annual greenhouse gas emissions). Record low carbon prices have damaged the credibility of the system and allowed a slide back to more polluting energy options, such as coal-fired power plants.

Ecofys report ‘The next step in Europe’s climate action: setting targets for 2030’: www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/en/Publications/2013/Ecofys-The-next-step-in-Europes-climate-action-setting-targets-for-2030/

Notes:

[1] Joint statement on the ETS by nine EU ministers (7 May 2013)

[2] Business Europe considers 2030 policies as the real priority in the ETS fix debate (16 April 2013): http://www.businesseurope.eu/content/default.asp?PageID=568&DocID=31557

Energy companies call for 2030 climate and energy policies (23 February 2012): http://static.euractiv.com/sites/all/euractiv/files/Open%20Letter_FINAL-2.pdf.

[3] Financial Times editorial on fixing the ETS calling for 2030 targets (17 April 2013): http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/329f0798-a762-11e2-9fbe-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2Smkn1BUV.

[4] UK challenges EU to set emission reduction target to 50 per cent: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-urges-europe-on-50-ambition-on-emissions-reductions.

[5] Greenpeace, 27 March 2013,‘Green paper kicks-off boxing match on Europe’s energy future’: http://www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/en/News/2013/Green-paper-kicks-off-boxing-match-on-Europes-energy-future/.

[6] Effort-sharing approaches to combat climate change involve dividing cuts of greenhouse gas emissions between countries in a way that reflects their current as well as historical contributions to emissions, their level of economic development and other factors. For this report, five of the most commonly used international approaches were analysed. The 49 per cent figure represents the median of a range from 39 to 79 per cent identified by these five approaches (‘Contraction and Convergence’, ‘Common but Differentiated Convergence’, ‘Multistage’, ‘Greenhouse Development Rights’, ‘Triptych’) for EU countries. For more information, see www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/en/Publications/2013/Effort-sharing-approaches.

[6] The European Environment Agency projects 25 per cent EU emission reductions in 2020, compared to 1990 levels, with implementation of existing and planned EU climate and energy policies: http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/ghg-trends-and-projections-2012.

Contacts:
Joris den Blanken - Greenpeace EU climate policy director: +32 (0) 476 961 375, Joris.den.Blanken@Greenpeace.org

For breaking news and comment on EU affairs: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU

Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning organisation that acts to change attitudes and behaviour, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace. Greenpeace does not accept donations from governments, the EU, businesses or political parties.

Ecofys Report: The next step in Europe’s climate action: setting targets for 2030

edavitt — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 22:00:00 +0200

Policy report commissioned by Greenpeace EUecofys_PolicyPaper

As 2020 edges closer and governments and investors demand certainty beyond, we are witnessing the first moves towards a new EU climate and energy package with 2030 objectives. But how much must EU greenhouse gas emissions be reduced in order to be effective, adequate and fair? And how can robust 2030 policies help to restore the credibility and effectiveness of the EU emissions trading system (ETS)?

This analysis, commissioned by Greenpeace and conducted by Ecofys, illustrates how through the application of widely accepted effort sharing approaches, the EU’s ‘fair share’ in 2030 global emissions reductions could be around 49% compared to 1990 levels (the 49% figure representing the median of a full range from 39 to 79%). Moreover it reveals that in order to restore the effectiveness of the ETS, and accommodate its current surplus of allowances, an additional reduction of 7 percentage points will be required.

Greenpeace comment on reported drop of EU carbon emissions in 2011

mbreddy — Wed, 29 May 2013 14:00:00 +0200

Brussels – The European Environment Agency has released new figures for average EU carbon emissions in 2011 [1]. The figures show an 18.4 per cent drop in emissions since 1990, just shy of the EU’s target to cut emissions by 20 per cent by 2020.

Reacting to the news, Greenpeace EU spokesperson Mark Breddy said: "This drop in carbon emissions in 2011 is good news, but the situation isn’t entirely peachy. What the numbers demonstrate is that the EU has virtually hit its 2020 target to cut carbon nine years early. This shows how ridiculously low the 20% target is and highlights the need for EU governments to step up ambition levels.”

“The 2011 drop is mostly due to a milder winter and the effects of the economic slowdown in Europe. Beneath the surface, the numbers also show that the EU’s carbon market is grinding to a halt, allowing European industry to start using more super-polluting fuels like coal and lignite," added Breddy.

Greenpeace is calling for at least a 30 per cent cut in domestic EU emissions by 2020 and a 55 per cent domestic cut by 2030.

Notes:

[1] European Environment Agency press release: http://www.eea.europa.eu/pressroom/newsreleases/greenhouse-gases-2011-emissions-lower

Contact:

Mark Breddy – Greenpeace EU head of communications:

+32 496 156229 (mobile), mark.breddy@greenpeace.org

For breaking news and comment on EU affairs: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU

EU sets limits on oil drilling under extreme conditions

edavitt — Tue, 21 May 2013 09:16:00 +0200

Brussels – Greenpeace has cautiously welcomed the support of the European Parliament in its plenary vote today for a new EU law on oil and gas offshore drilling. The law will go some way to ensuring that oil companies limit drilling in harsh conditions such as those that exist in the Arctic, where cleaning up an oil spill is impossible; however long phase-in periods for existing operations leave room for concern.

The new law obliges oil companies to assess the ability to clean up an oil spill in difficult conditions, such as prolonged darkness, ice cover or rough seas, where standard response procedures cannot be used. The agreement also calls for international political action to promote higher standards on prevention, preparedness and response to Arctic oil pollution.

Joris den Blanken, Greenpeace EU spokesperson on the issue:

“This law is a first step towards preventing oil companies from drilling in European waters where clean-up operations would be extremely difficult. EU leaders must now work to set an international ban on Arctic oil drilling, where any effective response to an oil spill is impossible.”

Besides the clear progress on oil spill response requirements, the directive is still weak and would allow discrepancies in the way different EU countries implemented their safety regimes. Greenpeace also regrets that compensation for oil spill damages for affected fishermen or tourism operators is not included in the law, and that existing oil rigs will have a full five years before they must comply with the new rules.

EU governments are now expected to rubberstamp the directive and to implement it when it enters into force. Greenpeace urges EU governments to implement this law in the strictest possible manner, setting in place a real safety regime.

Contacts:
Joris den Blanken – Greenpeace EU climate policy director: +32 (0)476 961375 (mobile), joris.denblanken@greenpeace.org

Ed Davitt – Greenpeace EU communications officer: +32 (0)476 988584 (mobile), Edward.davitt@greenpeace.org

For breaking news and comment on EU affairs: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU

EU climate policy suffers major blow

edavitt — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 10:29:00 +0200

Brussels – The European Parliament rejected in a vote today a modest, short-term fix of the EU carbon market, intended to curb the oversupply of carbon permits.

Greenpeace EU climate policy director Joris den Blanken said: “Today’s vote is a historic failure. In its present form, the carbon market will not stop a single coal plant from being built. As long as EU decision-makers cannot make the European carbon market work, member states should fill the vacuum by introducing national climate measures, such as taxes on coal use and phase-out schemes for coal-based power plants.”

After this vote, the stability of the emissions trading scheme (ETS) is in serious doubt - the Parliament rejected the proposal and sent it back to the Environment Committee. Unless the oversupply of emission permits is addressed, it will not serve its central purpose – to dissuade polluters and promote investments in cleaner production. Record low carbon prices have damaged the credibility of the system and allowed a slide back to more polluting energy options, such as coal.

In several EU countries, including Germany, Poland and the Netherlands, new coal‐fired power plants are either planned or under construction, and existing coal plants across Europe could run longer. Burning coal has severe impacts on climate change, local pollution and human health.

Contacts:

Joris den Blanken – Greenpeace EU climate policy director: +32 (0)476 961375 (mobile), joris.den.Blanken@greenpeace.org

Ed Davitt – Greenpeace EU communications officer: +32 476 988584 (mobile), edward.davitt@greenpeace.org

For breaking news and comment on EU affairs: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU

Advisory: EU ETS: Green Groups Urge European Parliament to Vote for the Climate

edavitt — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 13:49:00 +0200

Media Advisory

Who?

European Parliament

When and Where?

Tuesday 16 April, Strasbourg

What?

Tomorrow, the European Parliament will vote in plenary on the amendment to the EU Emissions Trading Directive (ETS), required to adopt the so called “back-loading” proposal. The back-loading proposal has been presented by the Commission after the European Parliament called for strengthening of the EU ETS in the context of the Energy Efficiency Directive and its own-initiative report on the 2050 Low-carbon Roadmap.

In order to correct the massive imbalance between supply and demand on the carbon market, the European Commission has proposed to delay the auctioning of 900 million CO₂ allowances, a step which would temporarily stall the continued oversupply.

The Parliament’s lead environment committee supported the proposal, with cross party support, in a vote on 19 February.

CAN Europe, Greenpeace and WWF welcome the proposed delay of emission allowance auctions as an important first step towards deeper reform of the EU’s carbon market. However, the number of allowances to be held back should be higher. Furthermore, backloading must be immediately followed by more long-lasting ETS structural reform.

Quotes

Quote from Joris den Blanken, Greenpeace EU

“Either parliamentarians support credible European action against climate change, or Europe will be forced back into a patchwork of national measures. It is not only the carbon market, but the entire European climate policy that is at stake in tomorrow’s vote.”

Quote from Julia Michalak, EU Climate Policy Officer, CAN Europe

"This week's backloading vote is a test for the European Parliament. MEPs will show whether they will vote for the climate or for more cheap pollution."

Quote from Sam van den plas, Climate Policy Officer, WWF European Policy Office

“The ETS is dangling on a cliff edge and Parliament can choose to lend a helping hand or to give it a shove. Support for backloading is a necessary step toward creating a carbon market that will help modernise and decarbonise Europe’s industry.”

Our campaign

Ahead of the plenary vote, last week green groups staged a live carbon “auction” in front of the European Parliament with outlandish bidders and a giant black balloon representing one tonne of CO₂ emissions.

High resolution images of the event are available here. Please credit Lode Saidane/CAN Europe/WWF if reproducing the photographs.

A video of the “auction” is available here.

For more information on the ETS, and on the position of CAN Europe, Greenpeace and WWF on reforming the system to make it work, see our briefing ‘EU ETS at a crossroads - NGO Briefing - January 2013’.

Why must the ETS be fixed?

The EU ETS is currently not functioning as envisaged. The scheme is neither contributing in a cost-effective manner to the EU’s climate objective of 80-95% emission cuts by 2050, nor accelerating the required low-carbon transition, and is therefore failing to meet its principal policy objectives.

With back-loading and ETS structural reform in place, auctioning revenues for all Member States would increase significantly between 2013 and 2020. With the right policy choices, these funds can mobilise investments in clean and resource-efficient technologies in the power sector and industry as a whole.

A restored carbon price signal will accelerate the modernisation of the power sector especially in central and eastern European Member States, which are obliged to invest the monetary value of the free allowances in the upgrade of their power systems.

Back-loading will not decrease Europe’s competitiveness. In addition to a 100% free allocation of allowances, industrial sectors supposedly at greater risk of ‘carbon leakage’ (the flight of carbon intensive industries to lesser regulatory regimes) - such as steel, cement and glass production - may receive state aid in compensation for increased electricity prices resulting from CO2 costs passed on by power producers. Back-loading will not decrease the surplus of allowances held by many companies.

Contacts: (available for interviews in Strasbourg 15-16 April):

POLICY CONTACTS

SAM VAN DEN PLAS, Climate Policy Officer, WWF European Policy Office

svandenplas@wwf.eu, +32 485 95 22 01

JULIA MICHALAK, EU Climate Policy Officer, CAN Europe, Julia@caneurope.org,

+ 32 495 77 45 68

JORIS DEN BLANKEN, EU climate policy director, Greenpeace European Unit joris.den.blanken@greenpeace.org, +32 476 96 13 75 (mobile)

MEDIA CONTACTS

VANESSA BULKACZ, Communications Manager, CAN Europe, Vanessa@caneurope.org, +32 494 525 738

Ed DAVITT, Communications Officer, Greenpeace EU, edward.davitt@greenpeace.org, +32 476 988584

AUDREY GUEUDET, Climate and Energy Media Officer, WWF European Policy Office, agueudet@wwf.eu, + 32 4 94 03 20 27

Green paper kicks-off boxing match on Europe’s energy future

edavitt — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 10:12:00 +0100

Brussels – Greenpeace welcomes the Commission’s decision to start defining Europe’s energy choices and climate action past 2020. However, given the Commission’s low objectives [1] regarding concrete numbers, Greenpeace urges EU governments to step into the ring to set ambitious climate and energy targets for 2030. Such targets will be crucial to steer the EU towards a clean and more stable economy based on renewables and less dependent on polluting and dangerous energy technologies, while keeping climate change to safe levels.

Commenting on the release of the Commission’s green paper, A 2030 framework for climate and energy policies [2], Greenpeace EU energy policy adviser Frederic Thoma said: “The Commission has sounded the start of round one but EU governments will decide if Europe goes into the ring ready for victory or with one arm tied behind its back. As it stands, the Commission’s lack of ambition on 2030 climate, renewables and energy efficiency targets make the EU a lightweight.”

Greenpeace supports at least a 55% cut in domestic carbon emissions by 2030, a 45% share of renewables in the energy system and a binding commitment to cut energy waste across the EU. Energy and environment ministers from EU countries will voice their views on the Commission’s green paper at their Informal Council meeting in April.

Notes:

[1] The scenarios used in the green paper make reference to a renewable share of 30% and cuts to greenhouse gas emissions of 40% by 2030.The green paper fails to recognise the need for a binding efficiency target.

[2] Commission green paper: A 2030 framework for climate and energy policies: link

Contacts:

Frederic Thoma – Greenpeace EU energy policy adviser: +32 (0)486 401895 (mobile), frederic.thoma@greenpeace.org

Ed Davitt – Greenpeace EU communications officer: +32 476 988584 (mobile), edward.davitt@greenpeace.org

For breaking news and comment on EU affairs: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU

EU deal could discourage oil drilling in Arctic waters

edavitt — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 13:44:00 +0100

Brussels, 21 February 2013 – Greenpeace has welcomed a preliminary agreement between the European Parliament and the Council over an EU law on oil and gas offshore drilling. If confirmed, the law could limit or even prevent oil drilling under harsh conditions, such as those in the Arctic, where cleaning up an oil spill is impossible.

The agreement, negotiated between the representative of the European Parliament, Ivo Belet, and the Irish presidency, representing EU governments, would oblige oil companies to assess the ability to clean up an oil spill in difficult conditions, such as prolonged darkness, ice cover or rough seas, where standard response procedures cannot be used. The agreement also calls for international political action to promote the highest standards on prevention, preparedness and response to Arctic oil pollution.

However, the proposed agreement would still allow discrepancies between safety regimes in different EU countries. The European Maritime and Safety Agency (EMSA) will not have an increased role in supervision and control. Greenpeace also regrets that compensation for oil spill damages for affected fishermen or tourism operators is not included in the deal.

Greenpeace EU climate policy director Joris den Blanken said: “This deal on the EU safety law for offshore drilling would go some way to ensuring that oil companies think long and hard before they embark on a risky adventure in the Arctic. Recent incidents off the coast of Alaska show that companies like Shell should simply not operate in one of the planet’s most fragile environments. Unfortunately, this deal still leaves too much wiggle room in its implementation.”

To become law, the agreement must now be endorsed by the European Parliament and governments. Once this happens, Greenpeace urges EU governments to implement this law in the strictest possible manner, setting in place a real safety regime.

Contacts:
Joris den Blanken – Greenpeace EU climate and energy policy director: +32 (0)476 961375 (mobile), joris.denblanken@greenpeace.org

Ed Davitt – Greenpeace EU communications officer: +32 (0)476 988584(mobile), Edward.davitt@greenpeace.org

For breaking news and comment on EU affairs: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU

Parliament lead Committee throws lifeline to ailing EU carbon market

edavitt — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 09:08:00 +0100

Brussels, 19 February 2013 – European environmental NGOs today welcomed the European Parliament Environment Committee’s support for the proposal to temporarily curb the oversupply of emission allowances in the EU emissions trading scheme (ETS). This ‘backloading’ proposal will go some way to mitigate the severe problems faced by the EU’s carbon market, which has so far failed to dissuade polluters due to the hopelessly low cost of allowances.

EU climate policy officer for WWF, Sam Van den plas, said: “Today the ailing EU carbon market was given emergency treatment, but full recovery will require proper surgery. Backloading of emission allowances is only a temporary first step. Structural reforms of the carbon market need to make a reality of the EU’s 30 percent domestic carbon emission reduction commitments.”

EU climate policy director for Greenpeace, Joris den Blanken, said: “Despite the vote, there’s little reason to celebrate today. The EU’s carbon market was saved from complete redundancy, but there’s a long way ahead to ensure it becomes a meaningful tool for greening Europe’s economy. The backloading proposal might slow the slide in the carbon price, but permanent cancellation of allowances and strong 2030 targets are essential if it is to achieve its aims.”

In today’s vote the centre right European People’s Party (EPP) refused to support a set of compromise amendments which aimed to get cross-party support for backloading. The EPP move put at risk the future of the EU carbon market; a disappointing reversal of the positive role the group played in the 2008 revision of the ETS. The majority for the backloading proposal was formed only thanks to a group of dissenting EPP parliamentarians who recognised that a functioning ETS is an opportunity for European industry, not a threat.

Julia Michalak, CAN Europe climate policy officer, said: “A few years ago, the EPP took the lead in putting in place a harmonised and stronger EU carbon market. Today, in contrast, we have witnessed a party opposing to innovation and efficient, future-oriented industries, with no vision of future EU climate and energy policies.”

CAN Europe, Greenpeace and WWF now call on EU governments, and in particular Germany, to swiftly support the ETS backloading proposal so negotiations between Parliament and the Irish presidency can begin. Done right, a European emissions trading system can stimulate innovation, create good jobs and move us off increasingly costly fossil fuels.

For more information:

Joris den Blanken – Greenpeace EU climate policy director: +32 476 96 1375 (mobile),joris.den.blanken@greenpeace.org

Sam Van den plas – Climate Policy Officer, WWF European Policy Office, +32 485 95 22 01 (mobile),svandenplas@wwf.eu

Julia Michalak - Climate policy officer Climate Action Network Europe, + 32 495 77 45 68 (mobile),julia@caneurope.org

For breaking news and comment on EU affairs, follow: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU

Report: Sustainable Alternatives for Land-based Biofuels in the European Union

edavitt — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 08:00:00 +0100

European countries are ramping up biofuel use in an effort to meet their obligations under EU objectives to decarbonise energy in the transport sector. But green transport targets for 2020 in the renewable energy directive (RED) and fuel quality directive (FQD) have largely served to incentivise damaging technologies, in particular unsustainable “land-based biofuels” [1].CE Delft Report

The RED requires EU countries to replace 10 percent of the energy used for road and rail transport from renewables, while the FQD requires fuel suppliers to reduce the carbon intensity of fuel by 6 percent by 2020.

Greenpeace, Transport & Environment, the European Environmental Bureau and BirdLife Europe have commissioned environmental research institute CE Delft to examine genuinely sustainable solutions for the decarbonisation of Europe’s transport energy sector. The report examines a range of scenarios to meet the RED and FQD targets without or with significantly less land-based biofuels than currently in use, including conservative estimates of the potential of sustainable biofuels.

The report shows how EU transport energy policy could reduce its reliance on damaging biofuels. This alternative vision for the transport sector in 2020 would cut CO2 by 205 million tonnes, compared to just over 60 million tonnes under a recent proposal [2] from the European Commission to adjust existing policy. It would allow EU countries to meet their targets while avoiding the displacement of food production to new land, increased carbon emissions and continued habitat destruction caused by land-based biofuels.

A pathway to greener transport includes:

Energy savings in the transport sector of 15 percent by 2020, through measures such as improved vehicle efficiency and a shift of transport from road to rail. Reducing energy demand will also lower the amount of renewable energy required to fulfil the renewable transport target.

The immediate accounting of indirect land use change emissions from biofuels under the EU’s renewable energy directive and fuel quality directive.

A robust cap limiting the use of land-based biofuels to current levels and a pathway towards near zero usage by 2020.

An increase in the use of renewable electricity in road and rail transport to over 1 percent (152 petajoules) of overall demand by 2020.
- The consumption of about 3 percent of non-land-based, sustainable biofuels from waste and residues in 2020 (350 petajoules), consisting mainly of biomethane from agricultural waste and biodiesel from waste fats.
- In the production of oil-based transport fuels, a significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from oil and gas flaring and venting.

[1] Land-based biofuels are produced from crops or fruits that are grown on agricultural or silvicultural land, as opposed to biofuels produced from waste and residues.

[2] http://ec.europa.eu/energy/renewables/biofuels/doc/biofuels/com_2012_0595_en.pdf

Briefing: Sustainable Alternatives for Land-based Biofuels in the European Union

edavitt — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 08:00:00 +0100

Report on sustainable alternatives for land-based biofuels in the European Union: Briefing materialsCE Delft biofuels report briefing

Greenpeace, Transport & Environment, the European Environmental Bureau and BirdLife Europe have commissioned environmental research institute CE Delft to examine genuinely sustainable solutions for the decarbonisation of Europe’s transport energy sector. The report [1] examines a range of scenarios to meet the RED and FQD targets without or with significantly less land-based biofuels than currently in use, including conservative estimates of the potential of sustainable biofuels.

See the briefing below for further details

[1] CE Delft, December 2012. Sustainable Alternatives for Land-based Biofuels in the European Union: Assessment of options and development of a policy strategy. Authors: Bettina Kampman, Anouk van Grinsven and Harry Croezen. Report commissioned by Greenpeace, Transport & Environment, BirdLife Europe and European Environmental Bureau. Available at http://www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/en/Publications/2013/CE-Delft-Report/, press release available at http://www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/en/News/2013/CE-Delft-PR/ .

Greenpeace comment on the release of the Irish EU presidency programme

mbreddy — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 14:15:00 +0100

The Irish government has released the detailed programme at the start of its six-month presidency of the European Union.

In an initial reaction after the publication of the programme, Greenpeace adviser for the Irish presidency Dónall Geoghegan said: "There is certainly a lot to do for Ireland on the environment and this programme reflects that. We're particularly pleased to see that the presidency will seek agreement on legislation to make cars more fuel efficient by reducing their carbon emissions. We also welcome that the presidency recognises the need to manage European fisheries more sustainably in order to preserve our seas for future generations. The European Parliament has already signalled that overfishing cannot continue and we hope that the Irish government will follow this approach in its work towards the adoption of reformed fishing rules in the EU."

On energy and climate change policy, Geoghegan added: "We certainly also expect the presidency to lay the foundations for the next set of 2030 objectives on climate change and for the uptake of renewables. Steady progress is needed to secure the environmental and jobs potential in the energy sector."

The full Irish EU presidency programme is available here.

Contacts:

Dónall Geoghegan: +353 87 222 5691
Greenpeace EU pressdesk: +32 (0)2 2741911, pressdesk.eu@greenpeace.org

For breaking news and comment on EU affairs: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU

Irish government unveils ‘trio’ EU presidency programme

mbreddy — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 14:45:00 +0100

Brussels – Today the Irish government laid out plans for its presidency of the Council of the European Union, which is due to begin on 1 January 2013. Statements today by Irish Tánaiste (deputy prime minister) and foreign minister Eamon Gilmore highlighted the need to focus on ‘jobs and growth’, but Greenpeace is concerned that the plans as outlined today still lack direction and fail to address the drain on the economy from expensive imports of natural resources. They also fail to recognise the opportunity for greater prosperity from the greening of the European economy across all sectors, warned Greenpeace.

The six-month presidency will allow Ireland to direct much of the policy focus of the Union for the first half of next year, within an 18-month joint 'trio' programme with the subsequent presidencies of Lithuania and Greece.

Greenpeace welcomes that the Irish presidency, as part of the trio programme, recognises that "the challenges posed by the current economic and financial situation cannot be addressed effectively in the long term without a continuing emphasis on green growth and resource efficiency" [1].

However, in a letter to Irish Taoiseach (prime minister) Enda Kenny last week, Greenpeace joined nine other leading environmental NGOs in expressing concern about the lack of focus on how greening the economy can shape Europe's recovery and highlighting some of the areas where the Irish government needs to focus special attention [2]. Europe's energy policy is central to its economic future – the EU currently spends €1 billion a day on fossil fuel imports from places like the Middle East and Russia, despite the fact that the OECD and the EU's own 2020 strategy specifically underline the need for greater energy efficiency and independence if the EU is to stabilise its economic position. The recent EU Energy Revolution report from Greenpeace highlights the potential for 1.5 million jobs in a new, modern European energy system based on renewables, energy efficiency and sustainable, independent energy [3].

Greenpeace adviser for the Irish presidency Dónall Geoghegan said: "What Ireland promotes as its themes and priorities for the presidency is important. There needs to be focus on a more sustainable direction for Europe's economy. We hope that as detailed plans are worked out by the Irish presidency, emphasis will go into ways to pursue lasting economic benefits and sustainable employment from clean and efficient economic systems that produce sustainable jobs. There is a risk that without such focus, EU countries would once again subsidise old polluting technologies that will do nothing to solve the underlying problems in the European economy. The Irish presidency needs to focus on things that work and benefit everyone, not just the banks: paying less for fuel, saving energy and creating jobs with better insulation, and cutting food and resource waste."

Notes to editors:
[1] http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/12/st17/st17426.en12.pdf
[2] http://www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/Global/eu-unit/reports-briefings/2011%20pubs/2012%20Nov-Dec/201212%20letter%20to%20Irish%20Taoiseach%20Enda%20Kenny.pdf
[3] http://www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/en/News/2012/ER-PR/

Contacts:
Dónall Geoghegan - Greenpeace adviser for the Irish presidency: +353 87 222 5691
Greenpeace EU pressdesk: +32 (0)2 2741911, pressdesk.eu@greenpeace.org

This press comment is also available on: www.greenpeace.eu
For breaking news and comment on EU affairs: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU

Green NGO letter to Taoiseach Enda Kenny on the Irish EU presidency

mbreddy — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 09:57:00 +0100

Letter on behalf of the Green 10.201212 letter to Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny

The Green 10 is the group of leading environmental NGOs active at EU level, with a combined membership of over 20 million citizens.

Energy Council – Commission must hear Energy Ministers’ call on renewables beyond 2020

edavitt — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 10:25:00 +0100

Brussels - EU energy ministers acknowledged during their Council meeting today the need to support renewable energy after 2020, said Greenpeace.

Meeting in Brussels to discuss the future of renewable energy policy, energy ministers called on the Commission to come forward with proposals. Ministers confirmed that a new policy framework should be based on the “no-regrets" options, i.e. substantially higher shares of renewable energy, increased energy efficiency and flexible infrastructure.

Greenpeace EU energy policy adviser Frederic Thoma said: "The EU currently spends some €350-400 billion annually to pay for fossil fuel imports. The member states that are struggling most in today’s financial crisis are those whose fossil fuel dependency is the highest. European citizens and investors need certainty about the path ahead. The Commission must now come forward with a proposal for a binding 45% target for clean, safe, indigenous renewable energy for 2030.”

Contacts:

Fred Thoma – Greenpeace Energy Policy Officer: +32 (0)0486 401895, Frederic.Thoma@Greenpeace.org

Greenpeace EU pressdesk: +32 (0)2 274 1911, Pressdesk.EU@Greenpeace.org

For breaking news and comment on EU affairs: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU

Commission ignores own research and labels biofuels from palm oil 'sustainable'

mbreddy — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 07:36:00 +0100

Brussels – The European Commission last Friday approved a certification scheme which would brand biofuels produced from palm oil as ‘sustainable’ [1], despite evidence that their production contributes to deforestation, peatland degradation, disputes over land rights, and climate change.

Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth Europe argue that legitimising the use of palm oil biofuels by approving the scheme by the Round Table for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is inconsistent with the Commission's own analysis published in October 2012. This found biodiesel from palm oil to have a worse carbon footprint than conventional diesel, mainly due to its indirect land use change (ILUC) impact [2]. Palm oil biodiesel has the highest carbon footprint of the most common biofuels.

Greenpeace forest campaigner Sini Harkki said: "The Commission's decision is disgraceful and smacks of hypocrisy. One day palm oil biodiesel is dirtier than normal diesel and the next day, after a little poking by the industry, the Commission swallows its own words."

Robbie Blake, biofuels campaigner for Friends of the Earth Europe, said: "Palm oil is driving deforestation, wildlife loss, community conflicts, and accelerating climate change. Instead of greenwashing palm oil, the EU should outright ban its use as a biofuel."

Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth Europe call on the Commission to suspend all the authorisations granted to certification schemes for biofuels identified as highly ILUC-intensive, until the indirect greenhouse gas emissions of biofuels are properly accounted for in law. In October, the Commission proposed to set a new 5% cap on the amount of food-based biofuels that can be counted towards the 10% EU renewable energy transport target by 2020. The proposal also requires EU countries and fuel suppliers to submit reports on the real greenhouse gas emissions from their biofuels (including ILUC), but not to account for these emissions when determining their path to meet EU green transport targets.

Note to editors:
[1] http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2012:326:0053:0054:EN:PDF

[2] Several studies, including some commissioned by the EU, have found that the extra demand for food crops such as palm oil for the production of biofuels has a significant climate impact. The search for new land to produce food often leads to land grabbing, deforestation or the draining of peatlands, which releases large amounts of greenhouse gases. When this indirect land use change effect is factored in, palm oil biodiesel causes more carbon emissions than conventional diesel. See page 26, table 4, in the Commission staff working document assessing the ILUC impact of European biofuels policies (October 2012): http://ec.europa.eu/energy/renewables/biofuels/doc/biofuels/swd_2012_0343_ia_en.pdf.

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Contacts:

Robbie Blake – Friends of the Earth Europe biofuels campaigner: +32 491 29 00 96, robbie.blake@foeeurope.org

Sini Harkki – Greenpeace forest campaigner: +358 50 582 1107, sini.harkki@greenpeace.org

Commission cannot decide which horse should win EU energy market race

mbreddy — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 14:17:00 +0100

Brussels – Greenpeace cautiously welcomed a communication by the European Commission on the future of Europe’s energy market.

The communication highlights lack of implementation of existing legislation as one of the main obstacles to achieving the modernisation and integration of the European energy market by 2014, as agreed by EU governments. It also rightly identifies power grid interconnection and energy efficiency as crucial elements to address the problem of security of supply, said Greenpeace.

But Greenpeace warns that the communication has missed another opportunity to give a clear direction to a modernisation of the energy system based on renewable energy and energy efficiency, in line with European commitments to cut carbon emissions.

Greenpeace EU energy policy adviser Frederic Thoma said: "The Commission recognises some of the obstacles standing in the way of a modern, integrated energy market in Europe. But it is trying to back too many horses in a race that can only be won by green energy."

Energy ministers will discuss the Commission's communication at their next meeting in Brussels on 3 December.

Contacts:
Frédéric Thoma – Greenpeace EU energy policy adviser: +32 (0)486 401895, frederic.thoma@greenpeace.org
Greenpeace EU pressdesk: +32 (0)2 274 1911, pressdesk.eu@greenpeace.org

This statement is also available on: www.greenpeace.eu
For breaking news and comment on EU affairs: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU

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NGOs welcome options for permanent measures to strengthen the carbon market

mbreddy — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 11:31:00 +0100

Brussels - CAN Europe, Greenpeace and WWF welcomed today's European Commission proposals for structural reform of Europe's carbon market. The options for long-term strengthening of the failing EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) follow a separate proposal earlier this week to temporarily reduce the glut in carbon emissions allowances, a process known as 'backloading.'

NGOs welcome in particular the Commission's analysis that raising the EU's carbon emission reduction target for 2020 from 20 to 30 percent would bolster the ETS. The groups also support the proposed permanent withdrawal of emission allowances, a steeper yearly reduction in allowances and limits to offset credits.

Joris den Blanken, Greenpeace EU climate policy director, said: "The carbon market is flat on its face and Europe's struggling economies are being drained by costly fuel imports. To turn the situation around, EU governments and the European Parliament must now work with the options put forward by the Commission to strengthen the carbon market."

Although the Commission proposal addresses the oversupply of allowances, it fails to address unjustified free allocation to certain industries. The ETS "carbon leakage list," which defines those industries - such as steel and cement firms - that receive free pollution permits, was developed on the basis of a carbon price of about €30 per tonne by 2020, and did not take into account the emission policies emerging in countries such as China, Australia and South-Korea. Even with ambitious intervention in the ETS, such prices are not expected to be reached. Today's EU carbon price is around €8.50 per tonne.

Sam Van den plas, WWF Climate Policy Officer, said: "Polluting industries are sitting on a massive pile of surplus allowances, on top of which they will get even more free permits. The Commission should reassess the group of companies receiving free allowances in view of more recent carbon price projections."

Contacts:

Joris den Blanken, EU climate policy director Greenpeace, +32 476 96 1375
Sam Van den plas, EU climate policy officer WWF, +32 485 95 2201
Julia Michalak, EU climate policy officer CAN Europe, +32 495 77 4568

Green groups welcome emergency fix to floundering carbon market

mbreddy — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 11:37:00 +0100

Brussels, 12 November - Environmental groups CAN Europe, Greenpeace and WWF welcomed a proposal today by the European Commission outlining temporary changes to revive the failing Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). The ETS has suffered from an excess of carbon emission allowances, undermining the incentive for polluting industries to reduce their climate-damaging carbon emissions.

Joris den Blanken, Greenpeace EU climate policy director, said: "Polluting industries have gained, for free, a glut of carbon permits worth billions. Postponing the auctioning of emission allowances is a welcome but temporary respite for the carbon market. Stability needs to be restored by permanently removing allowances."

The green groups are calling on European governments and the European Parliament to curb an oversupply of carbon emission allowances in the ETS by postponing the auctioning of at least 1.4 billion allowances in total, a process known as 'backloading.' This temporary measure must be followed quickly by steeper yearly reductions in the number of allowances and the permanent withdrawal of allowances in line with 30% domestic carbon emission reductions in the EU by 2020.

Sam Van den plas, WWF climate policy officer, said: "Backloading is a first step, but must urgently be followed by fundamental changes to the carbon market. Europe should do more than rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic, and show it wants to be a leader in green technologies. EU leaders must push ahead with steeper emission cuts than the 20% that has already been achieved, and move to 30% domestic emission reductions by 2020."

The Commission is expected to announce further structural reform options for the ETS later this week.

Contacts:

Joris den Blanken, EU climate policy director Greenpeace, +32 476 96 1375

Sam Van den plas, EU climate policy officer WWF, +32 485 95 2201

Julia Michalak, EU climate policy officer CAN Europe, +32 495 77 4568

Blank cheque to EU car industry will not steer it out of the crisis

mbreddy — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 11:10:00 +0100

Brussels – The European Commissioner for industry Antonio Tajani today released an EU action plan for the troubled automobile industry. Greenpeace warned that the plan fails to give the sector a clear path out of the crisis.

Commissioner Tajani wants unconditional financial support for car companies in the form of loans and research grants from the European Investment Bank, as well as more compensation for laid off workers from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund. The plan also stresses the need for "rigorous" competitiveness-proofing of any new regulatory measures.

However, the plan fails to acknowledge measures to limit the automobile sector's impact on climate change contained in an earlier action plan by Commissioner Tajani. The 2010 plan for Clean and Efficient Vehicles included a strategy to lower carbon emissions from lorries and a review of EU rules on CO2 labelling for cars.

Greenpeace EU transport policy director Franziska Achterberg said: "Commissioner Tajani is helping the car industry by giving it unconditional financial support irrespective of its ability to innovate and reduce its climate footprint. But European carmakers will only be competitive if they deliver on environmental technologies. This isn't going to happen without regulation."

"It is a myth that car plants are closing down because of regulation. The reality is that there are just too many plants that are running well under full capacity. Effective regulation would instead help steer the industry in the right direction and improve its competitiveness," added Achterberg.

Greenpeace and transport group Transport & Environment have written to Commission President José Manuel Barroso and Commissioner Tajani calling on the Commission to link any support to the automobile industry to strict environmental requirements: http://www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/en/Publications/2012/auto-aid/

Contacts:
Franziska Achterberg – Greenpeace EU transport policy director:
+32 498 362403, franziska.achterberg@greenpeace.org

For breaking news and comment on EU affairs: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU

Stronger carbon market would net EU governments over €60 billion

mbreddy — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 11:36:00 +0100

Brussels – European countries could increase revenues from a strengthened EU carbon market by more than €60 billion between 2013 and 2020, according to a report released today and commissioned by WWF and Greenpeace. The report also shows that the extra income could substantially increase green investments, while leaving European industry unscathed.

The EU's Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) has been suffering from a low carbon price and an excess of emission allowances which have in turn reduced EU government revenues and hampered the scheme's ability to cut carbon emissions from Europe's industrial sector. As a response to this situation, the European Commission is expected to release a plan on 14 November to curb the oversupply of emission allowances.

The report, based on modelling by the German-based Öko-Insitut, shows that temporarily withholding emission allowances – a step known as 'backloading' – would increase carbon market revenues by 7 percent or €7 billion between 2013 and 2020, compared to a scenario without intervention. In addition, the report finds that with carbon market measures delivering 25 to 30% greenhouse gas emission reductions by 2020, auctioning revenues would increase between 73 and 91% (€62 - €78 billion for 2013-2020). Several EU member states, including Germany and Latvia, decided to use ETS auctioning revenues for supporting innovation and green technology.

Sam Van den plas, Climate Policy Officer at WWF European Policy Office, said: "Without a stronger carbon market EU governments lose the opportunity to send an economically efficient price signal to Europe's biggest climate polluters. What the EU needs is a combination of emergency and structural measures to fix its carbon market. EU governments need to smartly invest the auctioning revenues in cleaner and more competitive production."

The report also demonstrates that the effects of ETS intervention on the competitiveness of European industries – such as steel and cement – are negligible, as many sectors continue to benefit from free emission allowances. Finally, the report criticises the Commission's 2009 assessment of the ETS' impact on industrial competitiveness (known as carbon leakage), arguing that it is based on outdated parameters.

Joris den Blanken, Greenpeace climate policy director, said: "Despite Europe's carbon market, coal burning is on a record-high. The carbon market is not working and EU leaders need to fix it before it becomes irrelevant. This report demonstrates that a functioning carbon market can bring huge financial benefits without harming European industry."

WWF and Greenpeace support backloading as an important temporary solution to fix the ETS and call on the EU to withhold at least 1.4 billion emission allowances. However, backloading must be followed urgently by structural measures to strengthen the ETS, in line with cutting domestic EU emissions by 30%, compared to 1990 levels.

Notes to editors:

1. For the full report, including an executive summary in English and German, see: http://www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/en/Publications/2012/The-cost-of-inaction/

A domestic 30% EU emission reduction objective for the EU ETS implies in total 2.7 billion emission allowances would need to be retired from the next trading phase (ie. a reduction of the cap by 2.7 billion EUAs between 2013 and 2020). This can be achieved by a combination of a cancellation of emission allowances and an increase of the annual linear reduction factor.

For further information:

• Sam Van den plas – Climate Policy Officer at WWF European Policy Office, +32 485 95 22 01 , svandenplas@wwf.eu

• Joris den Blanken – Greenpeace EU climate policy director: +32 476 96 1375 , joris.den.blanken@greenpeace.org

The cost of inaction - Auctioning revenues under different climate ambition scenarios for the EU Emissions Trading Scheme

mbreddy — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 11:30:00 +0100

Main findings20121106 RP ETS - Costs of Inaction report 2

Compared to the reference scenario auctioning revenues increase for all coun-tries in all action scenarios, even in the backloading scenario.

If the EU continues with its current 20% emission reduction target until 2020, the revenue losses for European Member States will be in the range of £á2012 62 billion (compared to revenues in the 25% domestic scenario) and £á2012 78 billion (compared to revenues in the 30% domestic scenario).

Overall the impact of reduced auctioning quantities and higher climate targets on industrial competitiveness is very limited and will be compensated. The sec-tors concerned have enjoyed over allocation in the past. From 2013 onwards they will receive 100% free allocation (based on benchmarks). A compensation mechanism for higher electricity prices has also been established.

The proposal by the Commission which includes the back-loading measure is a first step forward; however, the respective amount of allowances should be back-loaded for a period of a decade or more. It would be best to retire the back-loaded allowances at the earliest point in time. This first move should be complemented by the adoption of higher reduction targets since previous re-search has clearly shown that a stand-alone back-loading approach will not be sufficient to solve the surplus problem and restore a robust CO2 price signal.

Considering that the EU ETS Directive includes special provisions on redistribu-tion designed to support Central and Eastern European countries, these Mem-ber States would benefit more (compared to other Member States) from an in-crease in auctioning revenues even without introducing additional redistribution mechanisms under the ETS.

energy [r]evolution

jhunter — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 09:00:00 +0200

The 2012 EU Energy [R]evolution report, carried out for Greenpeace and the European Renewable Energy Council by the German National Centre for Aerospace, Energy and Transport Research, demonstrates how Europe would gain nearly half a million extra energy sector jobs by 2020 if it prioritises a system largely made up of renewables and energy efficiency over nuclear power and fossil fuels. Other benefits include long-term savings for consumers and improved climate stability.E[R] 2012 lr

The expert consensus is that a fundamental shift in the way we consume and generate energy must begin immediately and be well underway within the next ten years in order to avert the worst impacts of climate change. The scale of the challenge requires a complete transformation of the way we produce, consume and distribute energy, while maintaining economic growth.

The five key principles behind this Energy [R]evolution will be to:

• Implement renewable solutions, especially through decentralised energy systems and grid expansions
• Respect the natural limits of the environment
• Phase out dirty, unsustainable energy sources
• Create greater equity in the use of resources
• Decouple economic growth from the consumption of fossil fuels

Decentralised energy systems, where power and heat are produced close to the point of final use, reduce grid loads and energy losses in distribution. Investments in 'climate infrastructure' such as smart interactive grids and transmission grids to transport large quantities of offshore wind and concentrated solar power are essential. Building up clusters of renewable micro grids, especially for people living in remote areas, will be a central tool in providing sustainable electricity to the almost two billion people around the world who currently do not have access to electricity.

The Reference scenario is based on the Current Policies scenarios published by the International Energy Agency (IEA) in World Energy Outlook 2011 (WEO 2011). It only takes existing international energy and environmental policies into account.

As the IEA's projections only extend to 2035, they have been extended by extrapolating their key macroeconomic and energy indicators forward to 2050. This provides a baseline for comparison with the Energy [R]evolution scenario.

2030 renewables target key to unlocking European Energy [R]evolution

jhunter — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 09:00:00 +0200

Brussels – Europe could enjoy the broad benefits of an energy system powered from renewable sources by 2050, but must set a firm 2030 renewable energy target to steer the transition, according to a new report published today.

The 2012 EU Energy [R]evolution report, carried out for Greenpeace and the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC) by the German National Centre for Aerospace, Energy and Transport Research (DLR), demonstrates how Europe would gain nearly half a million extra energy sector jobs by 2020 if it prioritises a system largely made up of renewables and energy efficiency over nuclear power and fossil fuels. Other benefits include long-term savings for consumers, curbing energy demands and improved climate stability. The EU is already considering the post-2020 climate and energy policy landscape.

Greenpeace EU energy policy adviser Frederic Thoma said: “Renewable energy is the fastest growing energy source in Europe, largely thanks to an existing EU target. But we are quickly approaching a crucial crossroads, with more jobs, energy security and climate protection in one direction, and a growing dependency on expensive fossil fuels imports in the other. What we need now is a firm commitment at EU level to maintain the continent’s renewables revolution.”

Today, renewables provide 12.5 percent of Europe’s energy needs and are projected to meet the EU 20 percent target by 2020. The Energy [R]evolution foresees the renewables share increasing to over 40 percent by 2030 and 90 percent by 2050.

Greenpeace International senior energy expert Sven Teske said: “Every €1 rise in the price of oil costs Europeans over €400 million a month. By refocusing its energy system, the EU can cut that this dependency almost in half by 2030. Renewable energy, combined with efficiency standards for cars and buildings, will revitalise our societies and save billions of euros.”

Greenpeace and EREC are calling for a binding 2030 renewable energy target of 45 percent. They also want to see a swift phase-out of subsidies for nuclear energy and fossil fuels.

EREC secretary general Josche Muth said: “Nearly half a million extra energy sector jobs will be gained by 2020 if we chose to prioritise a system largely made up of renewables and energy efficiency. Clear administrative procedures, stable and reliable support and easier access to capital are vital to achieving this ambition. But to create investor confidence and stimulate further innovation, policy clarity post-2020 is needed. This will not only help the EU tackle the economic crisis, but bring us on a long-term sustainability path to 2050.”

The Energy [R]evolution report estimates that the costs of building a power system based on renewables and efficiency (power being more accurate than energy for estimating costs) would be compensated two-fold through the €3 trillion of fuel cost savings that would be accrued between 2011 and 2050.

For the 2012 EU Energy [R]evolution click here.

Contacts:
Greenpeace EU press desk: +32 (0)2 2741911, pressdesk.eu@greenpeace.org
EREC Communication and Policy Officer Eleanor Smith: +32 (0)2 400 1081, smith@erec.org

You can also find this press release on: www.greenpeace.eu
For breaking news and comment on EU affairs: www.twitter.com/GreenpeaceEU