When? Wednesday 22 May 2013, +/- 12h15 - 17h00

 

What / issue? Tomorrow the European Council will discuss energy, focusing on the completion of the internal market, infrastructure, diversification and prices. WWF calls on the Council to continue resisting the clamour of a powerful few, and formally recognise the vital importance of a 2030 package of climate and energy measures that pushes forward Europe’s drive to sustainable, affordable, indigenous energy services through energy savings and renewable energy.

 

The European Council will likely call for further investigation on the structure of energy prices, in response to a vocal minority arguing that the economic burden of climate and energy policy is too high. However, recent research has already indicated that climate change, energy efficiency and renewables policy have only been minor contributors to energy price rises [1]; and are essential to freeing us from rising fossil energy import bills and to tackling climate change. The proposed alternative of shale gas, meanwhile, is a phenomenon that is peaking in the United States [2], but could only ever play a minor role in Europe [3], and at a potentially high cost to the environment and our progress towards competitive sustainable energy supplies.

 

 

 

 

‘Those with narrow vested interests are trying to hang progressive climate policies with the rope of rising energy prices. They demand a halt to climate policy and a focus on new fossil fuels in order to maintain competitiveness; but this is a deliberate diversion from the real challenges Europe must overcome to secure prosperity for all: rising fossil fuel bills, slow progress creating modern integrated and competitive markets, and continued weakness on energy savings.’

 

 

European Council meeting - Agenda and relevant documents: http://www.european-council.europa.eu/council-meetings?meeting=4aa156c3-db37-4231-9b32-a90114a48bce&lang=en&type=EuropeanCouncil 

 

 

 

[1] For Germany, the WWF report ‘Myths and Facts about renewable energy in the Energiewende’ outlines this and other related information: available in English and German on http://www.wwf.de/themen-projekte/klima-energie/energiepolitik/mythen-und-fakten/. A relevant calculation for the UK was conducted by the Climate Change Committee: http://www.theccc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/1672_CCC_Energy-Bills_bookmarked.pdf, see figure 4.2, page 44.

 

[2] See http://www.postcarbon.org/drill-baby-drill/ for the most extensive survey of shale prospects yet published.

 

[3] See the presentation by Dr. Werner Zittel in the European Parliament on 14 May 2030: http://www.slideshare.net/gdecock/zittel-shale-gaseuropeanperspective14may20132

SOURCE
 

 

Head of Climate & Energy

WWF European Policy Office

janderson@wwf.eu

Phone:+32 2 740 09 35

Mobile:+32 4 74 837 603

 

Communication and Media Officer

WWF European Policy Office

agueudet@wwf.eu

Phone: +32 2 743 88 06 |

Mobile: + 32 4 94 032 027