Europe’s strategy on climate change and energy policy is at a critical juncture. The political crisis in Ukraine and the continent’s dependence on imported fossil fuels has caused energy security to rise to the top of the agenda. This provides a renewed opportunity to develop a energy policy based on alternatives to fossil fuel imports. PES is pleased to present an exclusive extract from the Institute for Public Policy Research’s latest report. Are you ready for radical change?
Observers have long recognised the pivotal role that a strong, ambitious and united Europe must play in any successful global negotiation. It is Europe that demonstrated to the world that greener growth is possible, and that a heavily polluting energy system is not a prerequisite for prosperity.
The European economy has grown by 45 per cent since 1990, even as emissions have been cut by 20 per cent (EEA 2014). Yet despite having taken a lead at international talks on climate change for decades, European governments have failed to agree a climate and energy policy out to 2030. It is now the US and China, rather than Europe, that are making the running in global climate talks.
Renewed leadership from Europe on climate change could help to leverage greater effort on the part of other major economies, and make a successful outcome at next year’s important international talks more likely. Given the grave security risks posed by global temperatures rising by more than 2°C, this is in our common interest. A key test of the new European strategy will be whether it is does what is necessary to manage climate risks, and specifically whether it is consistent with building a carbon-neutral economy within a generation.
