EU Parliament votes against plan to drop renewable energy targets

[bananas]

Source: ClickGreen

The European Parliament has today voted against the Commission’s controversial proposal to drop binding renewable energy and energy efficiency targets to be met by 2030 by EU states.

This follows the European Commission announcement last month that its 2030 energy plan proposed a binding renewable energy target only at a pan European level, rather than targets at national level.

Although, the Parliament’s vote isn’t binding, it sends a strong signal to EU governments ahead of ministerial meetings early next month and a Heads of Government summit which follows, where the EU 2030 climate and energy targets will be hotly debated.

Greenpeace Policy Director Doug Parr said: “If the UK wants to reap the economic benefit of 21st century industries like clean energy, it needs a strong and growing Europe-wide market for the key technologies and their supply chains.

<snip>

Read more: http://www.clickgreen.org.uk/news/international-news/124187-eu-parliament-votes-against-plan-to-drop-renewable-energy-targets.html

[bananas]

1. Pressure mounts for stronger EU climate package as MEPs demand tougher clean tech targets

http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/analysis/2327203/pressure-mounts-for-stronger-eu-climate-package-as-meps-demand-tougher-clean-tech-targets

Pressure mounts for stronger EU climate package as MEPs demand tougher clean tech targets

MEPs vote overwhelmingly for more ambitious clean technology targets, cranking up pressure on European Commission

By James Murray 05 Feb 2014

Green businesses and NGOs campaigning for the EU to strengthen its climate change policies received a major boost today, as MEPs voted overwhelmingly in favour of beefing up the package of clean technology targets for 2030 unveiled by the European Commission last month.

In a plenary session of the European Parliament, MEPs voted by 341 votes to 263 in support of a new plan put forward by the environmental and industrial committees of MPs, which endorsed the commission's plans for a 40 per cent cut in carbon emissions against 1990 levels by 2020, but called for more demanding targets to support renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.

The commission had angered clean tech industry groups and green NGOs by proposing a non-binding target for improvements in energy efficiency by 2030 and backing a goal of sourcing 27 per cent of energy from renewable sources that could allow member states to set their own national target.

Green groups argued that the voluntary targets would undermine long-term investment in clean technologies and warned that the commission's plans, including the overarching emissions target, were not ambitious enough and ignored impact assessments showing that more demanding goals would benefit the bloc's economy.

It was an argument that clearly resonated with MEPs, who yesterday branded the commission's proposals as "short-sighted and unambitious" and put forward new proposals for binding targets requiring the bloc to source 30 per cent of its energy from renewable sources and improve energy efficiency by 40 per cent by the end of the next decade.

<snip>

[bananas]

2. Parliament pans Commission plan to drop national renewable energy targets after 2020

http://www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/en/News/2014/Parliament-pans-Commission-plan-to-drop-national-renewable-energy-targets-after-2020/

Parliament pans Commission plan to drop national renewable energy targets after 2020

Press release - February 5, 2014

Brussels/Strasbourg – The European Parliament has weighed in on the debate on EU 2030 climate and energy policies and voted against the Commission’s proposal to drop binding 2030 renewable energy targets for EU member states. On 22 January, as part of its 2030 energy plan, the European Commission supported a binding renewable energy target at EU level but proposed that it should no longer be binding at national level.

Greenpeace EU energy policy adviser Frederic Thoma said “Europe cannot lead on clean energy development without clear enforceable targets for renewables and efficiency. With its call for binding targets today, the parliament has drawn a line in the sand to give investors the certainty they need. Now EU governments have to raise the bar to secure a clean energy future for Europe.”

The parliament called “on the Commission and the Member States to set a binding EU 2030 target of producing at least 30 per cent of total final energy consumption from renewable energy sources; stresses that such a target should be implemented by means of individual national targets taking into account the individual situation and potential of each Member State” (1).

While the European Parliament vote is not binding, it sends a strong signal to EU governments ahead of ministerial meetings on 3 and 4 March and a heads of government summit on 20-21 March, where EU 2030 climate and energy targets will be hotly debated.

Greenpeace calls on EU governments to approve a set of three binding 2030 climate and energy targets in advance of a leaders’ summit hosted by UN secretary-general Ban-Ki Moon in September 2014. Greenpeace supports a minimum 55 per cent cut in domestic carbon emissions, an increase to a 45 percent share of renewable energy and 40 percent energy savings.

Renewables myth buster – common misconceptions about renewable energy *debunked*: http://www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/Global/eu-unit/reports-briefings/2014/Renewables%20Myth%20Buster.pdf

Note:

(1) See paragraph 7: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&reference=A7-2014-0047&language=EN

[bananas]

3. EU parliament votes for three climate targets

http://www.irishexaminer.com/business/eu-parliament-votes-for-three-climate-targets-257854.html

EU parliament votes for three climate targets
Thursday, February 06, 2014

The European Parliament yesterday voted in favour of three climate and energy targets for 2030, rebuffing a commission plan for just one binding goal.

By Barbara Lewis and Ben Garside, Reuters

The vote at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, has no legal force, but stokes debate before summit talks between EU leaders in March on energy and environment policy and its impact on competitiveness.

It endorses fully binding goals for cutting climate emissions, improving energy efficiency and forcing member states to increase the amount of renewable energy they use.

<snip>

Whatever Europe decides will have a major influence on the international debate. Developing nations say the developed world must take on a big share of the work of cutting emissions as part of a new UN deal, expected to be agreed next year.

The commission hopes that summit debate in March, followed by further summit talks in June, will produce political agreement on 2030 policy, but has said it does not expect to produce a formal legislative proposal until after parliamentary elections in May and a changeover of commissioners this year.

[freshwest]

4. What about the story posted on DU of the UK (and EU?) approving fracking? Disappointing. n/t

[FBaggins]

5. The UK did... the EU decision so far is more nuanced

They (the EC) didn't so much "approve" it as decide not to propose leglislation restricting it. Member states are still free to ban the practice if they choose.