Green Fade-Out: Europe to Ditch Climate Protection Goals

According to Spiegel Online International in an article in January 2014, the EU's reputation as a model of environmental responsibility might soon be history. It claims that the European Commission wants to forgo ambitious climate protection goals and pave the way for fracking, jeopardising Germany's touted energy revolution in the process.

NB: On 22 January 2014, the European Commission launched the 2030 framework for EU climate change and energy policies (see separate record in ESO for information relating to this topic).

The new package set new climate and energy objectives for 2030 in order to ensure the EU economy and energy system becomes more competitive, secure and sustainable. It was aimed at giving certainty to Member States and investors, and supporting progress towards a more competitive, low-carbon and energy-secure European economy.

Key elements of the framework covered: greenhouse gas emissions reductions, renewable energy, and energy efficiency as well as a new governance system to obtain these goals. The package also included a proposal on the strengthening of EU emissions trading system.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Big EU guns fire for ‘crucial’ 2030 renewable targets http://www.europeansources.info/record/big-eu-guns-fire-for-crucial-2030-renewable-targets/

ESO: Background information: Expensive renewable energy is threat to industry: German minister http://www.europeansources.info/record/expensive-renewable-energy-is-threat-to-industry-german-minister/

ESO: Background information: Shale gas firms face binding law if they fail ‘scoreboard’ test / New regulations for the gas shale industry http://www.europeansources.info/record/shale-gas-firms-face-binding-law-if-they-fail-scoreboard-test-new-regulations-for-the-gas-shale-industry/

ESO: Background information: Communication From The Commission To The European Parliament And The Council Implementing the Energy Efficiency Directive – Commission Guidance http://www.europeansources.info/record/communication-from-the-commission-to-the-european-parliament-and-the-council-implementing-the-energy-efficiency-directive-commission-guidance/

European Commission: DG Energy: Green Paper 'A 2030 framework for climate and energy policies' http://ec.europa.eu/energy/green_paper_2030_en.htm

Deutsche Welle, 17.01.14: Top EU body likely to roll back climate goals http://dw.de/p/1Asuw

---