GGP: The EU: In the Midst of Crisis – Downgraded Sustainable Energy Ambitions
The statements, opinions and data contained in the content published in Global Gas Perspectives are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publisher and the editor(s) of Natural Gas World.
This was originally published in a study by IASS Potsdam in December 2016
The European Union (EU) is represented in the G20 by the Union as well as by the individual (EU-4) member states France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom. It could therefore play a role as an agenda-setter and multiplier in the G20 and beyond. However, internal consensus within the EU on the pace towards decarbonisation and an energy transition is eroding, and the EU is losing its frontrunner status and role as a ‘best practice’ reference for others. In particular, because of the multiple crises the EU faces, its ambitions in multilateral sustainable energy governance are stagnating.
The EU’s integrated energy and climate policy: losing momentum? The 2015 Paris Agreement was commonly ratified in the EU and provides the reference point for formulating EU energy policies and defining the transition path toward a more sustainable energy system. The EU member states have not (yet) achieved internal consensus on commitment to an ambitious decarbonisation path for their energy system(s) in line with the Paris Agreement, nor a compulsory mechanism on how to share collective responsibility for achieving this goal. Certainly, from an international perspective, the EU is not an exception but rather the rule when compared to other countries. If this continues, the EU is likely to lose its role as an international frontrunner and exemplar of best practice.
Back in 2007, the EU embarked on a common and integrated energy and climate policy. This marked the beginning of a new era in EU energy policy. Since then, the EU’s energy policy has been based on the strategic triangle of sustainability, competitiveness and energy security. In 2007, under the German Presidency of the EU Council, the then EU-27 agreed on ambitious climate targets to reduce emissions by 20 percent by 2020. The European Commission submitted An Energy Policy for Europe, which was the most substantial action programme in energy policy to date. The package is a set of binding legislation to ensure the EU meets its climate and energy targets for the year 2020. Its targets include a 20 percent cut in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels, 20 percent of energy to be produced from renewables and 20 percent improvement in energy efficiency compared to the projected use by 2020.
Kirsten Westphal
The statements, opinions and data contained in the content published in Global Gas Perspectives are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publisher and the editor(s) of Natural Gas World.