“New EU targets are useful as they put a peg in the ground” says IET

The European Commission has outlined its plans for climate and energy policy until 2030. The Commissioners want a binding target to reduce carbon emissions by 40% from 1990 levels. Renewables will need to provide 27% of EU energy by 2030, but while the target will be binding at EU level there will be no mandatory targets for member states.

Prof Roger Kemp, Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), said: “While we already have our own UK carbon reduction and renewables targets, for 2020 and 2050, the new EU targets are useful as they put a peg in the ground for what we want to achieve in the interim between the two UK target dates.  It should help us – and the other EU nations – to justify investing money in carbon reduction measures and technologies.

“For the UK, the proposed EU 40% reduction in carbon emissions and 27% increase in renewables is a big challenge.

“The lowest cost, but not always the easiest, carbon savings come from avoiding energy use and using energy more efficiently.  Perhaps this change will rebalance policy more in this direction.”

Ends

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