De Palacio threw out chance of energy target, admits Day

Date: 10/06/04

ENERGY Commissioner Loyola de Palacio singlehandedly blocked agreement on setting an ambitious new EU target for renewable energy consumption by 2020, the head of the Commission's environment department has confirmed.

"It was an A-point on the original document and she [de Palacio] had it taken off, which is highly unusual," Catherine Day, director-general for the environment, said on the sidelines of the Commission's annual Green Week conference that ended on Friday (4 June).

An 'A-point' is an item adopted without a debate. Day stated that a communication on renewables unveiled by de Palacio, the outgoing EU energy chief, on 26 May could have included a new target going beyond an existing 2010 goal.

Sources speaking from within the Commission say opposition to a new target had emerged during the so-called interservice consultation process leading up to the draft document's final approval from the competition, enterprise, and economic and monetary affairs directorates.

Day said that, while it was true that there were some different viewpoints between departments, this was not what scuppered the plan backed by the environment directorate-general (DG) to set a new target ahead of last week's international renewables conference in Bonn.

The need to set targets was a hot topic at the conference, which saw governments pledge to boost the use of alternative energies worldwide.

Hosted by the German government, it came to a close on Friday.

But no concrete targets were agreed, leaving some European countries feeling let down.

To fill in the gap, Klaus Töpfer, executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme, suggested the creation of an "ecological stability pact" setting out clear obligations for countries to achieve renewables targets.

European Environment Agency chief Jacqueline McGlade meanwhile insisted that a new EU target was needed. The agency would be "examining a set of renewable energy targets for 2020 from an environmental perspective to support policymakers", she said.

A renewables directive in place since 2001 aims to increase to 12% the share of renewables in total energy consumption by 2010.

But, according to the Commission's communication unveiled ahead of the Bonn conference, the EU is likely to reach only a 10% renewables share by that date.

Day said the environment DG would be pushing for a 20% target by 2020. Some green groups have lobbied for 25%, but Day suggested this was not going to happen.

Speaking in Bonn, Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström stressed that the EU would come up with a 2020 target by 2007, using the 20% figure as a yardstick.

"Renewable energy offers a low-carbon energy system, which will help us tackle climate change and other forms of air pollution," the Swede said.

"It strengthens Europe's security of energy supply, which we all know has far-reaching political and economic consequences - the recent surge in oil prices risks reminding us of this simple fact."

A political declaration that emerged from the meeting calls for strong regulatory and policy support for renewables and launches a "global policy network" to help support future efforts in the sector.

In the absence of a global target, the most important outcome of the conference was an associated international action programme listing 149 proposals.

Among these, the European Commission launched two initiatives. One is a funding mechanism aimed at improving renewables financing.

The other is a global online database of renewables policies, measures and targets set by the 88 member countries of the Johannesburg renewable energy coalition.

Meanwhile, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Investment Bank both launched renewables action plans.

A pledge by the World Bank to increase renewables funding, however, was lambasted by environmentalists as being so small that it would hardly make any difference (see facing page).

Also at the conference, China announced a national target for renewables to reach 10% of installed energy capacity by 2010.

Meanwhile, six European governments joined an International Energy Agency agreement to improve market opportunities for renewable energies.

Catherine Day, Director-General for the Environment, has confirmed that Loyola de Palacio, European Commissioner for the Environment, blocked agreement on setting an ambitious new European Union target for renewable energy consumption. Article goes on to discuss the outcome of the International Conference for Renewable Energies, Bonn, 1-4 June 2004

http://www.renewables2004.de/ http://www.renewables2004.de/

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