The European Council today adopted its Climate and Energy Package for 2030 and has chosen to go for a 27% indicative Energy Efficiency Target. It is a dismal agreement that falls short of the Commission’s unambitious proposal, which was made in July.
“This is not good enough!” said Adrian Joyce, Secretary General of EuroACE “Despite the numerous studies demonstrating the cost-effective potential of a higher energy efficiency target, the 28 Heads of State shied away from setting a strong Energy Efficiency target. A strong target could have unleashed investment in hard-hit sectors like construction and delivered multiple benefits through reduced energy dependence, a boost to public finances and improved health for EU citizens”.
The Council conclusions indicate that the Commission will propose ‘priority sectors in which significant energy efficiency gains can be reaped and ways to address them’. Swallowing a high of 40% of all energy consumed in the EU, buildings should feature as the top priority sector to be addressed in upcoming legislation revision, namely with Energy Efficiency Directive and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.