Wind Energy

Commissioner stresses importance of ?binding targets? for renewables

“It makes good business sense to invest in renewables yet people aren’t doing it”, said Commissioner Connie Hedegaard, pointing out that “this is one lesson we’ve learned in Europe in the last ten years – it helps when we have targets and it helps even more when we have binding targets.”

Earlier in the debate, she specifically referred to her “hope” for “milestones” in the European Commission’s upcoming 2050 Energy Roadmap, due out in December.

Josche Muth from the European Renewable Energy Council agreed, but pointed out that “We need a 2030 target – not a “milestone”. We need a target of at least 45% renewables in 2030.” Other panellists in the debate supported further targets for renewables and EWEA’s call for a move to a 30% greenhouse gas reduction target by 2020.

“I agree we have to step up from 20% reduction to more,” said the European Parliament’s environment committee chair Jo Leinen, who has championed a move to 30% amongst the MEPs. “We also need to give the [renewables] industry a target for 2030. You [the renewables industry] pledged for 45%, very good – I would support that.”

Newly appointed Danish energy and climate minister Martin Lidegaard, who was also on the panel, affirmed the willingness of his government to lead the way on renewables and climate change action during its upcoming EU Presidency next year.

Altogether 110 people attended the debate on climate change, which was organised by European Wind Energy Associatio to mark the launch of a new report on climate change and the need to move to a 30% emissions reduction target. ‘Achieving 30% lower emissions in the EU: the role of wind power & other renewables’ is available on www.ewea.org.

Sarah Azau, blog.ewea.org/