Midwinter call for greener heating

Frauke Thies of Greenpeace European Unit said:

“Greenpeace would encourage the Parliament to show its determination to tackle climate change and put a real figure on the targets proposed today, to help us shift away from using fossil fuels to heat our homes, offices and factories. We have shown that a share of at least 25% by 2020 is economically and technically feasible. The Commission can ensure that this potential is realised by delivering without delay a proposal that reflects such mandatory targets.”

Facts:

• The heating / cooling sector consumes 49% of energy in the EU, or as much as transport and electricity combined. Most of this comes from fossil fuels (oil, gas, coal).

• Unlike the transport and electricity sectors, there are currently no targets for the share of renewables in heating and cooling.

• The Commission has announced that it intends to propose legislation in this area, but has not specified a timeline.

• The current EU target for the share of renewable energies in its total (primary) energy is 12% by 2010.

• There is enormous potential to replace fossil fuels in heating and cooling, for example by using solar collectors, biomass, biogas and geothermal energy, using the heat of the Earth’s crust.