Above: Solar energy from www.1010uk.org
Report shows that while emissions have plunged, the European economy has grown by 46 per cent
Greenhouse gas emissions in Europe are at their lowest level ever recorded, while the EU’s economy continues to expand, a new report from the European Environment Agency (EEA) reveals.
The bloc has already gone past the 20 per cent cuts pledged for 2020, with emissions down 23 per cent on 1990 levels last year, according to the analysis.
However, the EU’s downwards emissions trend is slowing and business as usual will take it to just a 27 per cent drop by 2030 – under its UN commitment of “at least 40 per cent”.
Europe has just shown it is well able to sail past unambitious targets: by coming to the crunch UN climate summit in Paris ready to push harder post-2020, it will shore up its climate leadership and take a firm step towards putting the world on the path to containing global warming well under the 2DegC danger threshold.
As negotiators meet in Bonn this week for the last round of talks before the Paris summit, they will be taking note both of Europe’s strong progress so far, and the game change still needed.
Strong headline figures mask weak national progress. While Europe overall has already overshot its 2020 emissions target, four countries – Austria, Belgium, Ireland and Luxembourg – are slipping behind. Moreover, eight nations – including the UK, France and Spain – are likely to miss their binding renewables target and the same number the energy efficiency goal. If EU governments all pull their weight, the results – limiting climate change, improving health, creating jobs – will be stronger than ever.
Economies can grow while emissions shrink. The EEA report shows that while emissions have plunged, the European economy has grown by 46 per cent. Renewable energy – which now provides over a quarter of European electricity – both cuts emissions and contributes to Europe’s economy. Last year 1.2 million people were working in the renewables industry in Europe, which is a major exporter and has breathed new life into areas across the continent.
Europe can arrive in Paris ready to lead. Europe has proven it is able to walk the talk to 2014. By arriving at the UN climate summit with a strong and fair position on key issues like climate finance, a mechanism to regularly increase ambition and a long-term goal to phase out fossil fuels in favour of 100 per cent renewables – not to mention a readiness to go beyond its own pledge of “at least 40 per cent” lower emissions – it can help lead the way to a meaningful international climate change agreement.
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