Saving Water and Energy By Restoring Nature In Urban Areas: Statement on Nature Restoration Law

European Alliance to Save Energy (EU-ASE) welcomes the European Commission’s proposal for a Nature Restoration Law and supports the ambition presented by the ENVI rapporteur in the European Parliament to increase the restoration objective and set higher targets for the restoration of terrestrial, coastal, freshwater, marine, and urban ecosystems.

Nature restoration, ecosystem degradation, and biodiversity loss are critical issues for the European Union due to their impact on the environment, human health, and the economy. It poses a significant challenge to the EU`s sustainability goals, promotion of green growth, and achievement of a climate-neutral society.

The proposal includes some provisions that can promote the realisation of the water-energy nexus i.e. the ability to simultaneously save water and energy.

EU-ASE supports Article 6 on the restoration of urban ecosystems. We also support Article 11 which proposes the introduction of National Restoration Plans.

Green urban infrastructure and permeable surfaces in cities, such as urban parks, green roofs, and green walls, can contribute to saving energy and restoring nature in cities while supporting biodiversity, improving air and water quality, and providing recreational opportunities for urban dwellers, especially in densely populated areas.

The Nature Restoration Law has a significant importance in achieving Union climate goals and should be considered as another element of the package of legislation aiming to promote the deployment of energy efficiency technologies.

Read our full statement on Nature Restoration Law here.

About us
The European Alliance to Save Energy (EU-ASE) is a cross-sectoral, business-led organisation that ensures that the voice of energy efficiency is heard across Europe. EU-ASE members have operations across the 27 Member States of the European Union, employ over 340.000 people in Europe and have an aggregated annual turnover of €115 billion.

 

 

Future of the Energy Union: bringing the transformative potential of energy efficiency in the National Energy and Climate Plans

As EU member states prepare to submit their revised National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) to the European Commission on 30 June, they must pay greater attention to energy efficiency, writes EU-ASE President Monica Frassoni in Euractiv.

A future energy system must be highly energy and resource efficient, based on renewables, secure, competitive, affordable and of course, safe. One that can respond to the climate, energy and water crises that increasingly perturb our economy and create social tensions.

Reducing energy needs and doing this through ready-to-use technologies and a system approach is key to success of Europe’s future energy union and the Green Deal. The Energy Efficiency community needs therefore to have a regular seat at the table.

This is not always the case.

 

Read the full article byMonica Frassoni in Euractiv.

All hands-on deck: Mobilizing the EU’s cohesion policy to unlock Europe’s cities and regions’ potential to save energy (Event)

On 29 June 2023, the European Alliance to Save Energy (EU-ASE) and Regione Lombardia will host a half-day event aimed at building forward-looking partnerships between regions & business on energy efficiency. The event takes place on 29 June, 10:00 – 13:45 CET (including a light lunch). Register here!

Reducing energy need is one of our greatest tools to decarbonize and optimize our energy system to accelerate the integration of renewables, phase out fossil fuels and achieve the EU’s medium (2030) and long term (2050) energy and climate objectives of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It is also one of our most effective defenses to abate the impact of high energy bills for European households and businesses.

It is in Europe’s cities and regions where much of the necessary climate action can and needs to take place. This is why the at least 30% of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and 37% of the EU’s Cohesion Fund is dedicated to climate action, aligning with 2030 and 2050 energy and climate objectives. Energy efficiency, and achieving at least 30% in improvements, is a key priority for these funds, with significant financial support available to regions and local authorities for efficiency projects in key sectors: from public buildings and social housing to industrial plants and supporting local businesses.

Spent well, the funds will be a powerful lever to stimulate long-term private investment and build a solid skill base in Europe’s regions, but to realize the potential we need all hands on deck.

This half-day event, organised by the European Alliance to Save Energy (EU-ASE) and hosted by Regione Lombardia, will:

  • Unite Europe’s regions and businesses, along with key representatives from the European Institutions, to look at how the EU’s Cohesion policy can be leveraged to support energy efficiency projects across Europe’s regions. 
  • Provide a platform for regions to share successful experiences and shed light on some of the challenges at regional level. 
  • Enable Europe’s businesses and leading energy efficiency solution providers to demystify some of the technologies available for qualitative and quantitative savings, monitoring and measurement. 
  • Create a positive platform to connect the business community and regional actors and create new long-term partnerships to accelerate Cohesion supported energy efficiency projects at regional level. 

Some confirmed speakers include:

  • Personal video address: Elisa Ferreira, Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms
  • Paula Pinho, Director, Directorate-General ENERGY, European Commission
  • Quentin Galland, Group Public & Regulatory Affairs Director, Knauf Insulation
  • Mario Giordano, Head of Public & Government Affairs in Italy; Head of Project Specification, Signify
  • Andrea Voigt, Head of Global Public Affairs, Danfoss  

Register here!

*PLEASE NOTE: We expect interest in this event to be high so to ensure as many organizations can benefit from the exchange, places will be limited to one person per organization. Registrations will be confirmed via email.
The event will not be live-streamed.
Full agenda will be available soon. Stay tuned!

Save the date: Second edition of European Energy Efficiency Day, 12 October 2023 (hybrid)

On 12 October 2023 the European Alliance to Save Energy (EU-ASE) will host the second edition of the “European Energy Efficiency Day” conference in hybrid format. Register here!

Through a series of five sessions, this high-level conference brings together leading policymakers, business players and civil society organisations. The event is a unique platform to discuss energy efficiency as cost-effective and socially fair decarbonisation solution to achieve the EU Green Deal.

  • Opening Session: 09:30 – 10:10 CET. Energy efficiency – The accelerator for a more sustainable and resilient Europe.
  • Session I: 10:15 – 11:30 CET. Unleashing the power of buildings – new ambitious EU legislation, what next? 
  • Session II: 11:45 – 13:00 CET. Energy system efficiency- empowering citizens and repowering the EU.
  • Session III: 14:15 – 15:30 CET. Long-term solutions for industrial policy – the energy efficiency ecosystem. 
  • Session IV: 15:45 – 17:00 CET. Winning the skills race – Developing the future energy efficiency workforce. 

Register here & join us to draw the future of energy: www.energyefficiencyday.eu

*We still have a few places for sponsors, if you are interested or know companies who could support the event please write to info@euase.eu.

 

Do you want to know more about European Energy Efficiency Day? Find out from our 2022 edition here.
You can watch all 6 recordings here & on the EU-ASE YouTube channel

The water-energy nexus: connecting water saving, energy efficiency and the reduction of emissions.

Water and energy are probably two of the most essential, interlinked, and precious resources in our daily lives. In our current climate and energy crisis, unleashing the potential of the water-energy nexus will drive substantial water and energy savings, reducing emissions and increase the competitiveness of European industry, says Monica Frassoni in the Spring 2023 issue of European Energy Innovation Magazine.

The great thing is that we already have the technologies and solutions to simultaneously save water and energy.  A strong policy framework is needed to incentivise water and energy efficiency and enable the deployment at scale of these solutions. The water-energy nexus should be better reflected in legislation, and lawmakers should fully consider the benefits stemming from water efficiency as a key driver to delivering energy savings.  

 

Read the full article byMonica Frassoni in European Energy Innovation Magazine.