Renewable and efficiency businesses highlight priorities for increased climate ambition

Together with a large group representing Europe’s renewable and systemic energy efficiency value chains, EU-ASE sent a letter to the cabinet of European Council President Charles Michel.

The signatories strongly welcomed the increased ambition recently announced by the Commission, which builds on the key pillars supported by our associations: the combination of the energy efficiency first principle with the transition to renewable energies, with a specific emphasis on the electricity, heating & cooling, building and transport sectors.

The letter states:

“The good news is that technologies are available. However, barriers still prevent their uptake. Therefore, we need bold and urgent action from your side.”

The group highlighted four top priorities to ensure an increased climate ambition by 2030. These are:

  • The need to systematically apply the “energy efficiency first principle” as an essential enabler for decarbonisation, by reducing energy demand and costs associated with energy production, infrastructure and use.
  • The need to recognise “flexibility” as a core driver for the energy transition with dedicated measures to promote key elements such as efficient system management, energy storage, waste heat recovery and demand response technologies.
  • The need to actively facilitate customer choice towards the most cost-efficient technologies with the highest impact in terms of energy efficiency and CO2 emission reduction, building on the huge potential of digitalisation with smart technologies and controls, and with measures aimed at creating a level playing field for all energy carriers.
  • The need to sustain European excellence in renewable energies and their efficient use by further paving the way for the ambitious deployment of all renewables, with measures aimed at making use of and future-proofing Europe’s energy infrastructure as well as unlocking investments into the deployment of new, innovative technologies.

 

Download the full letter here

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EU-ASE at Climate Week NYC 2020: A Solution Set for Complex Challenges

On 23 September EU-ASE president Monica Frassoni participated in this Climate Week NYC webinar, hosted by the EE Global Alliance and the Business Council for Sustainable Energy.

During the event, leaders from the private, public, and non-profit sectors explored how clean energy and energy efficiency technologies and expertise can help meet the trio of challenges posed by COVID-19, economic recovery and climate change. Strategic deployment of this “solution set” will deliver significant gains in emissions reductions, improved community resilience, human health and safety, and the creation of new jobs and a more sustainable economy.

Attendees heard key takeaways from the special Economic Recovery edition of the EE Magazine, published by AOB Group and the EE Global Alliance, launched the same day of the event.

  • During the first session, the authors, including Monica Frassoni, discussed the key takeaways from their articles, focusing on energy efficiency’s role in economic recovery across the globe.
  • During the second session, clean energy executives discussed how to tackle these challenges vis-à-vis the deployment of clean energy solutions, smart public policy and project design, and strategic deployment of procurement, finance, and technologies.

View a recording of the launch webinar here.

Click here to read the EU-ASE article in the EE Magazine Special Edition on EE and Economic Recovery.

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Higher EU emissions cut for 2030 is right signal for a green recovery

On Wednesday 16 September, during her State of the Union speech, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the plan to propose an increased GHG emissions reduction target of at least 55% by 2030 against 1990 levels.

The European Alliance to Save Energy (EU-ASE) welcomes this decision, which comes at a crucial time for implementing the Paris Agreement and contributes to keeping the EU on the path to become climate neutral by 2050.

Monica Frassoni, President of the European Alliance to Save Energy, said:

“We very much welcome the proposal for an updated GHG emissions reduction target of at least 55% by 2030. This is the right signal in favour of a green recovery. We now expect that this move is quickly followed by the decision to adapt and make binding the targets for energy efficiency and review the EED. Energy efficiency needs to be more clearly recognized as a catalyst for the decarbonisation of our energy system.”

Harry Verhaar, Chair of the Board of the European Alliance to Save Energy, said:

“The Commission’s proposal to increase the climate target to 55% for 2030 is excellent news. Such a move is crucial in helping deliver the economic transformation required for building a prosperous, resilient and climate neutral economy and ensure that we are on track to reach Europe’s goal to become carbon-neutral by 2050 at the latest. From a business perspective this decision means: long term certainty to plan investments in growing markets, and an unprecedented boost to green, digital and high-skilled jobs relevant for Europe’s citizens and future.”

About EU-ASE

The European Alliance to Save Energy (EU-ASE) was established in December 2010 by some of Europe’s leading multinational companies. The Alliance creates a platform from which companies can ensure that the voice of energy efficiency is heard from across the business and political community. 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.

Media contact:

Matteo Guidi
+32 493 37 21 42
matteo.guidi@euase.eu

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EU summit deal is good news for Europe’s recovery, but clearer rules are needed on climate conditionality

On Tuesday 21 July, after one of the longest summits in the European Union’s history EU Heads of State and Government stroke a deal on the recovery plan and multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2021-2027.

The European Alliance to Save Energy (EU-ASE) welcomes this historic result at a time when it is crucial to ensure Europe’s swift socio-economic recovery in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The recovery plan is a unique opportunity to address – in the long term – the devastating impact of climate change on our societies. The overall climate earmarking for both the Next Generation EU and the MFF was increased from 25% to 30%. Expenditures will have to be aligned with the objective to reach climate neutrality by 2050 and contribute to achieving the Union’s new 2030 climate targets, which will be updated by the end of the year. Moreover, the Council agreed that, as a general principle, all EU expenditure should be consistent with the Paris Agreement objectives and the “do no harm” principle.

While welcoming the new instruments and targets, EU-ASE regrets the heavy cuts to the Just Transition Fund and the InvestEU programmes, both very relevant to ensure a smooth transition to a climate neutral society.

Monica Frassoni, president of the European Alliance to Save Energy said: The increase in the climate earmarking, as well as the references to the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals are good signs. Moving forward, we need to further increase the percentage of climate mainstreaming and need clearer rules, including a stringent definition of harmful activities, to ensure that no EU-backed spending is directed to investments at odds with the climate neutrality goal.”

We hope that the European Parliament will call for higher climate ambition. EU-ASE looks forward to working with the Parliament and Member States to make sure that the overall green commitment is reflected in the relevant sectoral legislations and in the national Recovery and Resilience plans.”

The businesses represented in EU-ASE stress that energy efficiency must be prioritised across key sectors (buildings, industry, transport, ICT) and the ‘energy efficiency first’ principle should guide energy investments in view of the proven economic and social benefits of efficiency measures both in the short and longer term.

 

About EU-ASE
The European Alliance to Save Energy (EU-ASE) was established in December 2010 by some of Europe’s leading multinational companies. The Alliance creates a platform from which companies can ensure that the voice of energy efficiency is heard from across the business and political community. 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.

Media contact:
Matteo Guidi
+32 493 37 21 42
matteo.guidi@euase.eu

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