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EU could make net savings of €250 billion per year with energy efficiency by 2030

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Internal Energy Market

The key to decarbonising Europe - Photo credit: NASA Earth Observatory

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Turning point for the ETS

The emissions trading scheme needs reform, but first it needs a patch

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New poll

Germanwatch publish results of a public opinion poll which finds 73% of…

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Closing the ambition gap: What can Europe do

04 December 2012

In a new briefing [1], CAN Europe shows how the EU is already on course to reach 25% emissions reductions by 2020, with the final number being closer to 27% if proposed further reductions from various EU initiatives are fully implemented. If the EU would make full use of the opportunities identified by research groups and NGOs, it could reduce domestic emissions beyond 30%.

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Wendel Trio, Director of CAN Europe, speaking at the UN Climate talks in Doha on Tuesday 4 December, had the following to say:

"The EU is wasting this opportunity to take political advantage ofthe emission reduction policies they already have in place and push for more at the international climate negotiations. They know that in reality their emissions will be much lower and should dare to raise the bar and show others that everyone can jump higher."

"If they want to show other developed and developing nations that they are serious about avoiding a world beyond 2 degrees, they should bring something to the table this week, preferably a number beginning with three," Trio added.

EU policies already in place that, if implemented properly, will bring the EU's emission reductions to more than 25% include directives on fuel quality, energy efficiency, renewables, car efficiency standards and f-gases. In addition, if pending reviews on these policies and the reform of the emissions trading scheme are completed ambitiously emission reductions in the EU would go beyond 30%.

"I would ask Ministers arriving this week, and Commissioner Hedegaard why they are not considering taking this opportunity to lead?" concluded Wendel Trio, Director of CAN Europe.

[1] Download briefing at : http://bit.ly/closethegapEU

Doha climate talks: An oasis of forward planning or a sandstorm of indecision?

26 November 2012

dohaweb A pile of recent reports from UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Bank, World Meteorological Association, PriceWaterhouse Coopers and European Environment Agency EEA all confirm the same alarming reality: current pollution trends and lack of governments' will to act on climate are resulting in our planet overheating to levels where adaptation is no longer possible. In Qatar, where the latest UN climate negotiations are currently taking place, increases in temperature and associated impacts will certainly be felt as the climate changes.

Despite the fact that we are overshooting our planetary boundaries, Doha is not expected to to be a moment for big headlines and new ambition. That moment is scheduled to happen in 2015 when the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP) track should deliver a new international treaty. But much has to happen by then both at the UN climate talks, and even more importantly, in national capitals. Governments need to start preparing for serious commitments in three years time. In the context of this process, Doha represents another important milestone. Here governments need to adopt the critical amendments to the Kyoto Protocol to allow it continue with a second commitment period.

Lack of new concrete EU commitments risks climate finance falling off a cliff

14 November 2012

At the ECOFIN meeting on November 13, EU Finance Ministers failed to provide a clear answer to what Europe will do to ensure climate finance does not fall off a cliff once Fast Start Finance is fulfilled in December 2012.

Developing countries, particularly those of the alliance between the EU, Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), rightly expect that more, not less climate finance will be provided to help them deal with climate impacts and develop a low carbon economy.

Lies Craeynest, Oxfam's EU Policy Adviser said:

"Europe's climate support for developing countries has helped protect vital infrastructure, industry and agriculture from increasingly erratic and extreme weather over the last three years. Yet despite a rise in the frequency and intensity of hurricanes, storms, droughts and floods Europe is unwilling to increase their support for poor countries after 2012.