EU Leaders confirm increased climate ambition for 2030
Brussels – 11. December 2020 – During the Council of the European Union meeting this morning, EU heads of states and governments agreed to increase the EU’s greenhouse gas emissionstarget to at least 55% by 2030, compared to a 1990 baseline. This agreement follows the European Commission’s proposal to reduce EU GHG emissions by at least 55%, and the European Parliament’s call for emissions to be reduced by 60%.
This is in line with SolarPower Europe’s 100% Renewable Europe study, which finds that 60% emissions reductions could be achieved in the EU by 2030, with a renewables share in final energy demand reaching 44.6% (Moderate) to 48.3% (Leadership). The study also shows that the 60% scenario is the most economically beneficial and the most job intensive. Concerns about how ‘just’ the transition would be, and whether coal-reliant countries would struggle with a higher 55% target than the current 40% target halted the negotiations on Thursday night, but Friday morning a conclusion was reached by the Council. To accommodate those concerns, the Council explicitly mentions the Emissions Trading System, and calls for its reform to use the Modernisation Fund to assist coal-reliant and less wealthy regions.
Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe, said: “Today, the Council of the European Union has shown true leadership in accelerating the fight against climate change. Achieving 55% of CO2 emissions reduction by 2030 is an unprecedented opportunity to boost Europe’s leadership in clean energy technologies. European solar manufacturing in advanced solar cells and modules in particular is one of the continent’s most exciting and promising industrial opportunities. The next-step for Europe must be to set up a ‘European Solar Initiative’ to support the scale-up of our innovative clean technology potential. As the lowest-cost, most versatile, and job-intensive clean energy technology, solar is set to be at the core of the European Green Deal, powering up to 60% of Europe’s energy supply by 2050. “
Aurelie Beauvais, Policy Director and Deputy CEO of SolarPower Europe, commented: “It is a great day for European climate leadership, as the Council of the EU confirms the alignment of the EU 2030 CO2 target with the commitment to achieving climate neutrality by 2050. To succesfully reduce our CO2 emissions by at least 55% by 2030, the first critical step is to adapt the EU 2030 binding target for renewables. According to SolarPower Europe’s 100% Renewable Europe study, it is entirely feasible that Europe’s final gross energy consumption reaches 40% renewables in the next decade. Europe can count on solar to achieve this, as recalled by IEA Director Fatih Birol earlier this year, solar is set to become Europe’s largest power source as of 2025, contributing to the bulk of CO2 emission reductions in the next decade.”
Miguel Herrero, Policy Advisor at SolarPower Europe, added: “Increased climate ambition will require a significant increase in the deployment of solar, both at utility-scale and on buildings. The upcoming revisions of the Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Energy Performance of Buildings Directives will have a key role to play in this regard. This is a unique opportunity for the EU to boost innovative solar solutions such as Agri-PV, floating solar, and Building Integrated Photovoltaics, which will enable the deployment of additional solar capacities with reduced land-use impacts.”
The EU will update its Nationally Determined Contribution as required by the Paris Agreement at the Climate Ambition Summit on 12 December. On 17 December, EU Environment Ministers will aim to finalise the Council’s full negotiating position for the Climate Law, to begin negotiations with the European Parliament as soon as possible.
