“EU climate neutrality by 2050 fails to acknowledge the Energy First Principle”

(6 Mar 2020) The Coalition for Energy Savings, where eceee is a member, welcomes the proposal by the European Commission to legally enshrine climate-neutrality as an EU 2050 target, but is disappointed that the “Energy Efficiency First” principle is missing

The new European Climate Law presented as the first ever proposal for a legally binding climate-neutrality target on a continental scale was published on 4 March. Achieving climate-neutrality requires more than halving of today’s energy demand.

The Coalition for Energy Savings, a coalition of Business and NGOs, had suggested to the Commission to apply the Energy Efficiency Principle in the Climate Law. It is the top line principle of the EU’s Clean Energy Package and Energy Union Governance Regulation.

“Today's proposal has missed the opportunity to use the Energy Efficiency First principle to increase the effectiveness of climate mainstreaming”, said Stefan Scheuer, Secretary General of the Coalition for Energy Savings. “Achieving climate-neutrality requires more than halving of today’s energy demand. But so far, most Member States are putting their energy efficiency policies on the back burner. As a result, energy demand does not decrease and the EU’s 2030 targets would be missed.”

The Coalition for Energy Savings expects the Commission to step up action on Energy Efficiency. The revision of the 2030 energy policy framework as announced by the European Green Deal is key in order to achieve a fast, fair and attractive energy transition. Ignoring Energy Efficiency measures when aiming at climate neutrality would come with high economic and social costs.

See Coalition press release here