Conclusions on 2030 Climate and Energy Policy Framework [European Council, 23-24 October 2014]

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Series Details 23.10.14
Publication Date 23/10/2014
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On 23 October 2014 EU leaders at the European Council summit agreed on the 2030 climate and energy policy framework for the EU.

The European Council endorsed 4 targets:

+ a binding EU target of at least 40% less greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, compared to 1990
+ a binding target of at least 27% of renewable energy used at EU level
+ an energy efficiency increase of at least 27%
+ the completion of the internal energy market by reaching an electricity interconnection target of 15% between members states and pushing forward important infrastructure projects.

The agreed framework was aimed at agreeing a common EU position ahead of UN climate talks in Paris in 2015.

On energy security, the European Council endorsed further actions to reduce the EU's energy dependence and increase security of its electricity and gas supplies.

Commenting on the agreement, Environment Commissioner Connie Hedegaard said: 'The EU climate action commissioner is very proud that the 28 EU leaders, despite economic uncertainty and other severe international crises, were able to get their act together on this pressing climate challenge'.

But, according to Friends of the Earth Europe, the targets set by the EU's 28 heads of state are far below what is necessary and what could be done by Europe to combat climate change.

Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), welcomed the announcement: 'I applaud this move, which provides valuable momentum towards the Paris 2015 global climate agreement. The decision means that the EU will be able to submit its contribution to the Paris agreement by March next year. And it opens the door to greater ambition by all countries. The fact that the 28 countries of the EU, in different stages of economic development, can reach a good compromise bodes well for the ability of all nations to come to an effective agreement next year'.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/145356.pdf
Related Links
European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: STATEMENT/14/337: Statement by EU Commissionner Connie Hedegaard on 2030 agreement by European Council http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-14-337_en.htm?locale=en
BBC News, 24.10.14: EU leaders agree CO2 emissions cut http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29751064
ESO: Background information: European Council, Brussels, 23-24 October 2014 http://www.europeansources.info/record/european-council-brussels-23-24-october-2014/
EUObserver, 23.10.14: EU leaders reach 2030 deal on climate and energy http://euobserver.com/news/126227
EurActiv, 24.10.14: EU leaders adopt 'flexible' energy and climate targets for 2030 http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-priorities-2020/eu-leaders-adopt-flexible-energy-and-climate-targets-2030-309462
Friends of the Earth: News, 23.10.14: EU climate deal puts polluters before people http://www.foeeurope.org/EU-climate-deal-puts-polluters-before-people-241014
EurActiv, 23.10.14: Member states claim veto over 2030 climate and energy laws http://www.euractiv.com/sections/energy/member-states-claims-veto-over-climate-and-energy-laws-309436
The New York Times, 23.10.14: European Leaders Agree on Targets to Fight Climate Change http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/24/world/europe/european-leaders-agree-on-targets-to-fight-climate-change-.html
Euronews, 24.10.14: EU lays out new energy policy, Greens say it doesn’t go far enough http://www.euronews.com/2014/10/24/eu-lays-out-new-energy-policy-greens-say-it-doesn-t-go-far-enough/
France24, 24.10.14: EU leaders agree to landmark 2030 climate deal http://www.france24.com/en/20141024-european-union-2030-climate-deal-greenhouse-gases/
The Guardian, 24.10.14: EU leaders agree to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030 http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/24/eu-leaders-agree-to-cut-greenhouse-gas-emissions-by-40-by-2030
Deutsche Welle, 23.10.14: EU agrees deal to slash emissions, boost renewables http://dw.de/p/1DbKT
The Guardian, 23.10.14: EU climate policy being 'taken hostage' by Ukip, MEPs say http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/oct/23/eu-climate-policy-being-taken-hostage-by-ukip-meps-say
Blog: Open Europe, 23.10.14: Time to reassess the EU’s environment and climate change policies http://openeuropeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/time-to-reassess-eus-environment-and.html
Euro|Topics: Main Focus, 23.10.14: EU discusses climate and energy http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER152480-EU-discusses-climate-and-energy
BusinessEurope: Press Release, 24.10.14: EU Energy and Climate 2030: greater consideration for competitiveness needed http://www.businesseurope.eu/content/default.asp?PageID=568&DocID=33465
European Environment Bureau: News, 24.10.14: EU leaders racing to the bottom http://www.eeb.org/EEB/index.cfm/news-events/news/eu-leaders-racing-to-the-bottom/
Blog: LSE EuroppBlog, 24.10.14: The EU has agreed new emissions targets, but what hope is there for a global climate agreement in 2015? http://bit.ly/10qXoQL
ESO: Background information: EU welcomes progress on international climate action at Warsaw conference / Last-minute deal at UN climate talks http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-welcomes-progress-on-international-climate-action-at-warsaw-conference-last-minute-deal-at-un-climate-talks/
UNFCCC: News, 24.10.14: EU Agrees 40% Greenhouse Gas Cut by 2030 http://newsroom.unfccc.int/unfccc-newsroom/eu-agrees-40-greenhouse-gas-cut-by-2030/
European Council: The President: PRES/14/561: Joint letter of President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy and President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso to the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the EU comprehensive Climate and Energy Framework http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/145470.pdf
EUObserver, 24.10.14: UN welcomes EU climate deal http://euobserver.com/environment/126242
Le Monde, 26.10.14: Summit sends signal for better climate (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE152557-Summit-sends-signal-for-better-climate
EurActiv, 07.01.15: UK accused of hypocrisy over plans to limit enforcement of EU climate goals http://www.euractiv.com/sections/climate-environment/uk-accused-hypocrisy-over-plans-limit-enforcement-eu-climate-goals
EUObserver, 07.01.15: London and Prague call for 'light touch' on EU climate goals http://euobserver.com/environment/127120

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