The European Union is on track to meet the climate and energy targets set for 2020.
However, further efforts are needed by 2030. According to a study by the European Environment Agency (EEA), between 2012 and 2013, greenhouse gas emissions fell by almost 2% in the European Union (EU), so that the reduction target for 2020 has almost been reached. The EU is also well on the way to achieving two further targets aimed at promoting renewable energies and energy efficiency by the same year. According to EEA’s analysis of the forecasts of each Member State, by 2020 the EU is expected to reduce its gas emissions by at least 21% compared to 1990 levels, thus exceeding its target of 20% . On the other hand, in 2012, the final consumption of energy from renewable sources amounted to 14%, which means that the EU is also ahead of the expected target of achieving 20% of renewable energy by 2020. Similarly, energy consumption Is decreasing at a faster rate than is necessary to achieve the 2020 energy efficiency target. European heads of state and government recently agreed new targets for 2030 aimed at reducing by at least 40% greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 levels, to increase renewable energies to account for at least 27% of final energy consumption and to reduce energy consumption by at least 27%. The current projections for 2030 indicate that there is a need to combine efforts at national and European level for the EU to move towards the new 2030 targets, as well as the long-term objectives of decarbonising the EU energy system and reducing its emissions of greenhouse gases from 80 to 95% by 2050.
Source: European Environment Agency