On 14 July, the European Commission presented the ‘Fit for 55’ package of proposals in the framework of the European Green Deal to make the European Union's climate, energy, land use, transport and taxation policies fit for reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. [1] This target is set by the European Climate Law which was adopted by the Council of the European Union on 28 June and also sets out a binding objective of climate neutrality in the European Union by 2050. [2] The proposals combine the application of emissions trading to new sectors and a tightening of the existing European Union Emissions Trading System (ETS); increased use of renewable energy; greater energy efficiency; a faster roll-out of low emission transport modes and the infrastructure and fuels to support them; an alignment of taxation policies with the European Green Deal objectives; measures to prevent carbon leakage; and tools to preserve and grow our natural carbon sinks. [1]
Amongst the other proposals, the European Commission proposes a new Energy Efficiency Directive and the revision of the Renewable Energy Directive. This would result in:
- increasing energy efficiency targets at European Union level to achieve by 2030 an overall reduction of 36-39% for final and primary energy consumption; and
- increasing the binding target of renewable sources in the European Union’s energy mix to 40%. [3]
The share of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption in 2019 amounted to 19.7%. [4] The proposal therefore aims to double the share of renewable sources in the European Union’s energy mix.
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is critical to achieving the goals set in the European Climate Law and the Paris Agreement. A new Eurobarometer survey published on 5 July shows that more than nine out of ten people surveyed consider climate change to be a serious problem (93%), with almost eight out of ten (78%) considering it to be very serious. Nine out of ten respondents (90%) agree that greenhouse gas emissions should be reduced to a minimum while offsetting remaining emissions to make the EU climate-neutral by 2050. [5] Now is the time is for action!
Explore the Map of the Week to learn about marine renewable energy installations and project locations.
The data in this map are provided by EMODnet.
[1] https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_3541
[2] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2021/06/28/council-adopts-european-climate-law/
[3] https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal/delivering-european-green-deal_en
[4]https://ec.europa.eu/energy/data-analysis/energy-union-indicators/database_en?indicator=DE4&type=table
[5] https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_3156