EU moves to relax target for renewables
Print Edition
The European Union shied away from more ambitious renewable energy goals yesterday as the bloc’s sluggish economy appeared to dent its zeal in the fight against climate change.
The European Commission stepped back from proposing tougher binding renewable energy targets for each of the 28 member nations. Instead, it seeks the introduction of a less ambitious pan-European goal of 27 percent by 2030.
The proposal by the commission, the bloc’s executive arm, still needs approval from EU governments and the European Parliament over the coming year.
On greenhouse gas emissions, the commission called for a reduction of 40 percent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels instead of its existing target that calls for a 20 percent reduction by 2020.
Overall though, Europe’s financial crisis and protracted recession has subdued its appetite for tough climate action.
Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso defended the package as striking the right balance between fighting climate change and making sure Europe won’t fall behind economically, calling it “ambitious but realistic.”
“Climate action is central for the future of our planet, while a truly European energy policy is key for our competitiveness,” he said.
Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, has vowed to replace nuclear power with renewable energy sources by 2022.
Berlin had urged the commission to stick to binding national targets for energy generated from water, biomass, solar and wind instead of watering it down by introducing a pan-European goal.
Economy and Energy Minister Sigmar Gabriel said without the previous binding targets, Europe would never have made the progress it has, and “we should continue consistently along this road.”
But many less well-off nations had pushed the commission in the other direction.
Climate activists lambasted the EU for falling behind on some of its ambitious goals.
“The January sales are on and it looks like Europe’s dirty energy companies have bagged a bargain,” Greenpeace EU managing director Mahi Sideridou said.
The Climate Action Network, a coalition of more than 120 non-governmental organizations across Europe, also criticized the emission reduction targets as too timid.
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