Windenergy News: Climate and energy Green Paper: Put the EU on the right track for 2030

Brussels. 27th March 2013. Filling the policy vacuum from 2020 onwards is crucial in order to reduce both regulatory risk and investor uncertainty, while at the same time creating jobs, restoring growth and sustaining innovation through to 2030.
 
This Green Paper marks the beginning of the very necessary process of establishing post-2020 policies to lead to a truly sustainable energy future for Europe built on renewables. “The objectives of decarbonisation, energy security and international competitiveness in the EU will need a 'hat-trick' achieving the three goals of a combined renewable energy, greenhouse gas and energy efficiency framework for 2030”, said EREC’s president Rainer Hinrichs-Rahlwes.

“The public consultation which now opens provides an initial basis for the necessary discussion on an ambitious and binding 2030 renewables target in the context of a holistic climate and energy framework”, commented Hinrichs-Rahlwes. “This is the kind of long term thinking that is needed from the EU in order to meet its 2050 decarbonisation commitments, while at the same time stabilising consumer prices. A long term commitment to renewable energy leads to lower costs and has been shown by the European Commission to be a 'no-regrets' way forward”, explained Hinrichs-Rahlwes.

“In their discussion at the European Council in May, Heads of States and Governments now need to provide clear guidance so as to put the EU on the right track for 2030. In particular, they should request a thorough impact assessment in order to define the best match between targets for renewable energy, emissions savings and energy efficiency”, concluded Hinrichs-Rahlwes.