Europe’s energy infrastructure planning must move away from supporting fossil fuels and lay down rules for fully integrating energy efficiency and 100% renewables supply. It has to look at the entire range of energy solutions, on independent and evidence-based assumptions to be aligned with the EU’s climate and energy objectives, and relevant nature legislation, say environmental and climate NGOs in a joint letter sent to the European Commission.
“Europe’s energy infrastructure planning must be two-sided: guarantee economic recovery and accelerate the transition to climate neutrality with a complete phase-out of fossil gas by 2035. We need to exclude all direct or indirect support to fossil fuel infrastructure if we want to tackle climate change, protect ecosystems and avoid rolling crisis after crisis. Any future planning should support the transition to a 100% renewable energy system and put energy efficiency first while protecting our nature”, said EU Gas Policy Coordinator of Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe, Esther Bollendorff.
The revision of the trans-European energy infrastructure (TEN-E) Regulation by the end of 2020 is a crucial opportunity to accelerate the shift towards a climate-neutral society and make a lasting difference to our future.
The joint letter was sent just after the 27 EU national Energy Ministers met and declared that energy infrastructure as part of the European Green Deal can play a role in EU recovery, and prior to the launch by the Commission of a stakeholder consultation on the revision of the trans-European energy infrastructure (TEN-E) Regulation. This revision is meant to adapt the guidelines set in 2013 to the EU’s energy and climate targets for 2030 and its long-term decarbonisation commitment.
The letter is co-signed by Climate Action Network Europe, Birdlife, ClientEarth, Food and Water Action Europe and Friends of the Earth Europe.
ENDS
Contact:
Cristina Dascalu, Communications Coordinator, cristina@caneurope.org
Esther Bollendorff, EU Gas Policy Coordinator, esther@caneurope.org, +32 484 564 680
Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe is Europe’s leading NGO coalition fighting dangerous climate change. With over 160 member organisations from 35 European countries, representing over 1.700 NGOs and more than 47 million citizens, CAN Europe promotes sustainable climate, energy and development policies throughout Europe.
