Commission dresses up low climate ambition as success

Posted on January, 22 2014

WWF is disappointed by today’s weak European Commission outline of EU 2030 climate and energy policies. By suggesting a greenhouse gas emissions target out of line with climate science, as well as a low renewable energy target which places no legal requirements on member states, the Commission appears to be putting the brakes on modernising Europe’s energy system.

WWF is disappointed by today’s weak European Commission outline of EU 2030 climate and energy policies. By suggesting a greenhouse gas emissions target out of line with climate science, as well as a low renewable energy target which places no legal requirements on member states, the Commission appears to be putting the brakes on modernising Europe’s energy system.

Jason Anderson, Head of Climate and Energy - WWF European Policy Office said:

“After months of anticipation, the Commission has repackaged a slowdown in the current pace of emissions cuts and renewable energy deployment, and called it ambitious. It is putting Europe’s economic modernisation at risk.

The picture painted by the full set of policy proposals is dispiriting - an energy efficiency target has been deferred; cancelling the massive oversupply of carbon in the Emissions Trading Scheme is also deferred; closing the gaps in EU shale gas legislation is deferred. I’m sure the fossil fuel lobbyists will sleep well tonight.

It is now up to Member State governments to show the political leadership needed to inspire Europe towards an industrial and economic revolution that will provide for both people and the planet.”




ENDS

Note to the editors:

1. Today ahead of the white paper’s publication, leading NGOs including CAN Europe, WWF, Oxfam, Friends of the Earth Europe, Greenpeace,APRODEV, Carbon Market Watch, EEB, HEAL and Women in Europe for a Common Future staged a cry for HELP! in the front of the European Commission - calling on the European Commission and the EU Heads of State and Government to put EU climate ambition back on track with what its citizens – and science – are calling for.

Pictures of the actions are available here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wwf_eu/12049718004/

2. WWF is calling for EU targets on greenhouse gas cuts (at least 55%), renewable energy generation (at least 45%), and energy savings (at least 40%), which are legally binding and effort shared between Member States. Further details can be found in WWF’s response to the European Commission Green Paper on a 2030 Framework for Climate and Energy Policies - http://www.wwf.eu/what_we_do/climate/publications_climate/?209335/WWF-position-on-2030-EU-Climate-and-Energy-policy

Contact:

Jason Anderson
Head of Climate & Energy
WWF European Policy Office
janderson@wwf.eu
Phone:+32 2 740 09 35
Mobile:+32 4 74 837 603

Audrey Gueudet
Climate & Energy Media and Communication Officer
WWF European Policy Officer
agueudet@wwf.eu
Phone: +32 2 743 88 06 
Mobile: + 32 494 03 20 27


Source of the article

SOS! EU Climate Action lost at sea
© Lode Saidane / WWF
WWF is disappointed by today’s weak European Commission outline of EU 2030 climate and energy policies.
© WWF