14 February 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

[Brussels, February 14, 2012] - The Energy Efficiency Directive is in danger of turning from a romance novel into a modern tragedy. But we still have time to save it!

Reacting to today's Energy Council discussion on the draft Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), NGOs call on Ministers to inject a new level of ambition and urgency into the negotiations. [1, 2]

"European Heads of State agreed a year ago that 'determined action' is needed to close the gap in meeting Europe's energy savings target," said Erica Hope, Senior Policy Officer at Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe. "Yet so far, many governments have been seeking to gut the draft EED of both targets and measures," Hope continued. "Member States cannot keep on calling for the benefits of energy savings unless they change their attitude toward the instruments which could deliver them."

To deliver Europe's 20% energy savings objective – which we are on course to miss by more than half - we need binding national targets, obligations for energy companies to deliver efficiency measures and ways to streamline financing. We also need concrete requirements to deliver deep renovation in buildings.

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30 January 2012

Today the European Commission published a long-awaited paper that outlines the numerous benefits increased climate action would bring Europe. Analysis of "Options to move beyond 20% greenhouse gas emission reductions: Member State results" finds that increased EU climate ambition will deliver great financial, health and environmental benefits for all member states. The study, which was completed at the request of EU environment ministers, shows that moving beyond 20% emission reductions by the year 2020 is feasible, beneficial and much cheaper than previously thought.

“This study is important because it offers Member States a way to ensure greater stability and resilience against oil price and supply fluctuations, which in turn will create stronger economies and a healthier environment in all of Europe,” said Julia Michalak, EU Climate Policy Officer at CAN Europe.

“The Commission’s findings remove any doubt about the benefits of stronger European-wide climate action,” Michalak continued. “Higher targets will benefit the EU’s citizens and economy as well as poorer countries already experiencing the effects of climate change in other parts of the world.”

CAN Europe urges all 27 EU member states to act on this analysis and support a shift towards a more ambitious target by increasing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from all sources.

11 December 2011

The most important thing that happened in Durban is that we saved the Kyoto Protocol and secured a roadmap to negotiate a new treaty by 2015. But the agreement lacks specific measures to further reduce greenhouse gases. The Durban deal will also not make a contribution to closing the gap between the reductions needed to stay below a 2°C temperature rise and what countries have pledged.

We were happy to see the EU playing a constructive role in Durban by creating alliances with the small island states (AOSIS) and the least developed countries (LDCs), making genuine efforts to move the negotiations forward. Given the relative success of this summit, the EU now needs to urgently deal with its own low emission reduction ambition and start increasing its target well beyond 30%.

09 December 2011

[Durban, South Africa – December 8, 2011] - Today in Durban, Climate Action Network (CAN) – Europe hosted a media briefing, webcast live, outlining civil society expectations for EU leadership as we near the end of the UN climate talks in Durban. Topics covered include the continuation of the Kyoto Protocol, a time frame and mandate for a legally binding and comprehensive agreement, forging partnerships with other blocs and climate finance.

·        Wendel Trio, Director of CAN Europe, said, "By building a much stronger coalition of progressive countries in Durban, including the African Union and AOSIS, the EU can push other countries toward a result. Any outcome would be imperfect, but would at least move us forward on climate action."

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