Posted on October, 21 2014

Who?
 
European Heads of State and Government meeting at the European Council

When and Where?

23 and 24 October 2014 in Brussels
 
What?

On 23 and 24 October, European Heads of State and Government will meet in Brussels to agree the EU climate and energy framework from 2020 to 2030.
 
The European Council seems to be heading towards an endorsement of 40% greenhouse gas reductions, at least 27% renewable energy and 30% energy savings.  However, rumours and media reports suggest that EU climate talks have entered their endgame with everything still on the table, including both more ambitious targets, but also possibly new loopholes.
 
Concerns remain that Poland and a number of Eastern European states could yet torpedo an agreement if additional financial support is not provided to help them decarbonise. In parallel, disagreements are also emerging over the proposals for energy efficiency and renewable energy targets. While some Member States are still pushing for both targets to be legally binding and applied at the national level, others insist that binding targets should not be imposed.
 
For WWF, the adoption of an ambitious climate and energy deal for 2030 is the ultimate stress test for Europe. It will reveal the true credibility of Europe’s ambitions to lead the world in combatting climate change and show whether EU leaders can drive the industrial and economic transition that is needed to protect and provide for both people and the planet.
 
A recent Eurobarometer survey reveals that 90% of Europeans consider climate change a serious problem, that 92% think it is important for their governments to provide support for improving energy efficiency by 2030 and that 90% find it important for their government to set targets to increase use of renewables by 2030.
 
WWF is calling for EU targets on greenhouse gas cuts (at least 55% achieved domestically), renewable energy generation (at least 45%), and energy savings (at least 40%), which are legally binding and effort shared between Member States [1].
 
 
Quotes from Jason Anderson, Head of EU Climate and Energy Policy at WWF European Policy Office:

“Well over half a million people in 2,000 communities around the globe marched last month to demand real action on climate change.  Now it is EU leaders’ turn to show that there is substance behind their claims to be ‘ambitious’ on climate change. We simply cannot accept ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ ”.
 
Unless EU Heads of State and Government have the strength of conviction and character needed to resist short term views and vested interests in the most polluting industries, Europe will lock in a decade of weak climate action, energy sector stagnation, and lost social, environmental, and economic opportunities [2].”
 
ENDS

Note to the editors:
 

1. http://www.wwf.eu/what_we_do/climate/climate_energy_publications.cfm?209335/WWF-position-on-2030-EU-Climate-and-Energy-policy
2. Without European leadership it is unlikely that other countries will take the action needed to avoid global temperature increases of 3.5°C or more. Such failure would expose the EU to climate related damages of at least €190 billion - a loss of 1.8% of  GDP. Weather-related extremes events could roughly double in frequency. (source: https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/news/new-study-quantifies-effects-climate-change-europe) 

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