New European climate and energy goals for 2030

In March last year the European Commission adopted a Green paper on the topic ("A 2030 framework for climate and energy policies") followed by a public consultation open to all stakeholders. The results of the public consultation have been taken into account in the new legislative document drafted by the Commission. This new policy framework will be discussed next in the Council on 20-21 March and in the European Parliament once the new Members of European Parliament get elected in May this year.

The new policy framework has as an ambition to set out the CO2 emissions’ reduction and energy efficiency targets until 2030 taking into account the 2020 targets and already existing strategic documents such as the Transport White Paper and Energy Roadmap 2050.  The new targets must be met if the EU is to keep its promise to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 80-95% by 2050.

The Transport White Paper  established a goal to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from the transport sector by 60% by 2050 compared to 1990 and by around 20% by 2030 compared to emissions in 2008. GHG emissions increased by 33% during the period 1990 to 2007 but have since fallen due to high oil prices and other measures that have been taken. This trend is expected to continue up until 2020 but further efforts will be required after 2020 to reach the White Paper's targets. As important measures to reduce emissions from transport the Commission has identified: better integration between modes, greater exploitation of the non-road alternatives, improved management of traffic flows through intelligent transport systems (ITS), and extensive innovation in and deployment of new navigation technologies and alternative fuels. The Commission also suggests to the Member States to consider how fuel and vehicle taxation can be used to support greenhouse gas reductions in the transport sector.

No new targets have been proposed in the document for the transport sector after 2020 in what concerns energy (current targets: 10% renewable energy for the transport sector. The share of renewables in transport rose to 4.7% in 2010 from 1.2% in 2005).

To read about all proposed targets for 2030, consult the “A policy framework for climate and energy in the period from 2020 to 2030”.

For more information, contact dstoycheva@polisnetwork.eu