Big EU guns fire for ‘crucial’ 2030 renewable targets

Ministers from eight EU states - including Germany and France - called on the European Commission to set “robust” renewable energy targets for 2030, in a break with an emerging consensus for one emissions-cutting goal alone.

On 9 January 2014, the European Parliament voted for three binding energy and climate targets in 2030, proposing a 40% improvement in energy efficiency.

EurActiv reported on the 17 January 2014 that the United Kingdom and the Czech Republic were opposing calls by eight EU member states to introduce a renewable energy target for 2030, claiming the EU’s future climate and energy framework should be technology neutral and allow nuclear energy among other sources.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Halving EU emissions by 2030 is affordable, says Britain http://www.europeansources.info/record/halving-eu-emissions-by-2030-is-affordable-says-britain/

EurActiv, 10.01.14: Parliament, Commission set for clash over 2030 clean energy goals http://www.euractiv.com/energy/parliament-commission-set-clash-news-532682

European Commission: DG Energy / DG Climate Action / DG Mobility and Transport: EU Energy, Transport and GHG Emissions - Trends to 2050 (EU, 2013) http://ec.europa.eu/energy/observatory/trends_2030/doc/trends_to_2050_update_2013.pdf

EurActiv, 08.01.14: EU study predicts clean energy, climate failure by 2050 http://www.euractiv.com/energy/eu-study-predicts-climate-failur-news-532630

EurActiv, 17.01.14: UK, Czechs call for nuclear-friendly 2030 energy policy http://www.euractiv.com/energy/uk-czechs-call-nuclear-friendly-news-532822

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