The informal alliance describes itself as “a loosely-founded coalition of progressive energy companies [that] share the same views on accelerated transformation of the energy system”.
Its members are Acciona (Spain), DONG Energy (Denmark), EDP (Portugal), Eneco (the Netherlands), EWE (Germany), Public Power Corporation (Greece), Sorgenia (Italy) and SSE (UK).
“The lack of binding targets post-2020, an ETS failing to stimulate investment in renewables, and an outdated energy infrastructure, severely threaten to wreck the needed modernisation and decarbonisation of the European energy sector,” the group says in a strongly worded open letter to the European Commission.
“We call on the Commission and the Presidency of the Council to… decide on legal mandates for binding 2030 renewables, CO2, and energy efficiency targets,” the letter continues.
EU Roadmap
Last year’s EU’s roadmap for a low carbon economy by 2050 offered a milestone-paved route to the emissions reductions of between 80% and 95% that scientists say are needed to prevent global warming of more than 2 degrees Celsius.
The first milestone comes in 2030, and the EU suggests it as a deadline for measures such as increasing the share of low carbon technologies in the energy mix to 75%-85%.
But draft conclusions for the 9 March Council of environment ministers, obtained by EurActiv, only invite the European Commission to present timely options for delivering the 40% carbon emissions reduction promised in the roadmap.
”Having a stable investment climate is critical for energy companies,” Anders Eldrup, chief executive of DONG Energy and a leading alliance member, told EurActiv in a written statement.
DONG is Denmark’s largest energy company and although its primary interest has been in oil and gas drilling, the company is reorientating itself towards renewable energy.
“Our current investment plans have a time span of a decade and more,” Eldrup said. “Binding 2030 targets for renewables and an effective CO2 price are crucial elements to set an economic framework that can drive the huge investments necessary to achieve the build-out of renewables and a modernised energy infrastructure.”
Milestones
But the wider business community is far from united on this question, according to Folker Franz, the environmental advisor to BusinessEurope, which represents Europe’s employers federations.
“We are enthusiastic for a discussion on 2030 but defining a figure is not enough; we don’t think you can close the door and decide to turn the roadmap milestone for 2030 into a target tomorrow,” he told EurActiv.
Folkner saw the ’20-20-20’ targets agreed in 2007 – for 20% improvements in Europe’s emissions, renewables and efficiency performance by 2020 – as “catchy” but “flawed”.
“Do we still need three binding targets like ‘40-40-40 or 30-30-30?” he asked. “I have my doubts. I think we’re beyond that and we need discussion on which elements of the 2030 package should be non-binding.”
BusinessEurope aggregates the views of a highly diverse business community through national federations which do not always consult their members on climate policy. This has led to complaints from some of its members about a democratic deficit in the organisation.
COMMENTS
The citizens of Europe are not consulted on these targets which once set as a result of lobbying from vested intersts such as "the informal alliance" of energy majors above, will provide a carte blanche for developers such as Dong Energy, SSE and other industrial giants to line their pockets by covering Europe's countryside with large scale, inefficient windfarms and their attendant infrastructure, subsidised by hapless EU citizens. Higher electricity prices, millions of taxpayers euros wasted on reinforcing the grid, lessened business competitiveness, negligible impact on global climate change, ruined countryside and coastlines, endangered wildlife ... What's to like ? The democratic deficit lies with the manner in which a small handful of energy giants are attempting to exert disproportionate impact on EU energy policy.
The vested interests are the ones who have been running the energy sector for years now and they are so much disappointed now with the new conditions that being created.
Please your greenwash is so obvious when you talk about green lobbyists and you defend the oil industry.
I think you have mixed the arguments. It is the oil industry that has ruined the planed, flora and fauna, and is now preventing to direct ourselves towards the creation of jobs on a sustainable basis.
I think oil lobbyies can find more intelligent way to greenwash their dirty secrets.....
After reading this post, I would like to expect that this great alliance will cause positive impacts on our planet. We can see that the industries and factories use charcoals and other fuels fro production that cause air pollution and global warming. So using renewable energy resources like solar power, wind mills, biomass etc. is the best option for us. They are eco-friendly and not harmful or dangerous to our body and nature.
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