European Parliament rejects Commission's one-legged 2030 policy

Brussels. 5th February 2014 - Today’s vote in plenary on the European Parliament's report on "A 2030 framework for climate and energy policies" gives a clear signal that the demand for three binding targets for greenhouse gas emissions reductions, renewable energy sources and energy efficiency prevails. It is now up to Member States and the European Council to take up the challenge of making this policy package an actual step forward for Europe.
 
"The vote today by European Parliamentarians for three binding targets for 2030, including one for renewables of clearly more than 27%, sends a strong signal that political will to support clean renewable energy solutions to the climate issue is strong”, said Rainer Hinrichs-Rahlwes, President of the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC). “And this despite the weak 2030 policy proposal put forward by the EU’s Executive Branch”, he added.

“A meaningful 2030 renewable energy target would spur the lagging European market, thus encouraging private investment in real game-changing technologies such as the array of different sources of renewable energy which exist at present", added Hinrichs-Rahlwes.

"It is now up to the European Council to ensure that the EU's promise to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 80-95% by 2050 is not discarded on the basis of an emissions target at the lower end of what would be needed, and thus ensure a positive way forward for European renewables technologies", said Hinrichs-Rahlwes.

Background:

Last month, the Commission opened the discussion on Europe's future climate and energy policies by putting forwards its unambitious climate and energy objectives towards 2030. They proposed a binding greenhouse gas target of 40% and a supposedly binding target for renewables of just 27%, which is actually meaningless without a national breakdown1.
 
Climate and energy issues will be discussed by European Heads of States at the March and June European Council meetings.
 
Press Release on the EREC website.
 
1. See EREC Press Release from 22nd January 2014.