Today, the European Commission unveiled its European Green Deal to address European and global concerns about the devastating effects of climate change.
The communication acknowledges that in the effort to reduce GHG emissions and achieve climate neutrality by 2050, energy efficiency must be prioritised.
“This is good news – said Monica Frassoni, President of the European Alliance to Save Energy – the reduction of energy consumption is the first indispensable step to drive the energy transition towards renewable supply and contribute to emission reductions. The timing of Green Deal is perfectly aligned with the European Parliament declaration of a climate emergency as well as an unprecedented climate mobilization of young people and citizens from across the globe”.
The Communication lacks a specific reference to the Energy Efficiency First principle and the commitment to increase the 2030 energy efficiency target. “We believe that efficiency first must be absolutely central to the European energy system and should guide all future energy planning and investments. We look forward – concluded Monica Frassoni – to working with the Commission services to underline the social, economic and environmental benefits of systematically apply the Energy Efficiency First principle across the energy value chain”.

“We are at a defining moment and at the beginning of the decade of climate action, the European Green Deal must be a key driver towards increased ambition by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050. In this perspective, we believe that increased legally binding energy efficiency and renewables targets and measures would mutually reinforce each other and deliver the GHG emissions reductions urgently required to meet the Paris Agreement objectives.
We are delighted to join forces with industry, civil society, cities, professionals, and workers. In the months to come, we look forward to work with the European Institutions to operationalize the energy efficiency first principle in every energy infrastructure investment decision and launch an integrated renovation plan to make all European homes highly efficient, smart and powered with renewable sources”

Monica Frassoni, President, European Alliance to Save Energy (EU-ASE)

“The future ahead of us is a transition towards a climate neutral economy. Yesterday, the European Council missed the opportunity to sign off an EU climate neutrality commitment by 2050 despite a large majority of 24 Member States now backing net-zero emissions by 2050. We should build on this group of progressive countries and convince the remaining Member States that the transition is the best economic choice for Europe, whereas the cost of inaction would be unbearably high. Moving forward, we must link the climate neutrality commitment more closely to the EU budget discussion, so that we prioritize investments in energy efficiency to halve the demand of energy in the EU by 2050, and move towards 100% renewable energy generation. The EU budget is the most suitable collective tool to make this long-term transformation happen. In a just and ordered transition that leaves no-one behind in the shift to a zero-emission society, EU public resources will attract the necessary private investments to make the European economy more innovative and competitive.”

 

Monica Frassoni, President, European Alliance to Save Energy (EU-ASE)