2030 framework for climate and energy policies (strategic document)

EUROPEAN
COMMISSION
Brussels, 22.1.2014
COM(2014) 15 final
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN
PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL
COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS
A policy framework for climate and energy in the period from 2020 to 2030
{SWD(2014) 15 final}
{SWD(2014) 16 final}
EN EN

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN
PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL
COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS
A policy framework for climate and energy in the period from 2020 to 2030
1. INTRODUCTION
Much has been achieved since the EU adopted its first package of climate and energy
measures in 2008. The EU is now well on track to meet the 2020 targets for greenhouse gas
emissions reduction and renewable energy and significant improvements have been made in
the intensity of energy use thanks to more efficient buildings, products, industrial processes
and vehicles. These achievements are all the more significant given that the European
economy has grown by around 45% in real terms since 1990. The 20/20/20 targets for
greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy and energy savings have played a key role in
driving this progress and sustaining the employment of more than 4.2 million people in
various eco-industries1, with continuous growth during the crisis.
Box 1: Key achievements of the current energy and climate policy framework
The Union has set itself three targets to be attained by 2020 for greenhouse gas emissions
reductions (20%), the share of renewable energy (20%) and improvements in energy
efficiency (20%). Current energy and climate policies are delivering substantial progress
towards these 20/20/20 targets:
• Greenhouse gas emissions in 2012 decreased by 18% relative to emissions in 1990
and are expected to reduce further to levels 24% and 32% lower than in 1990 by
2020 and 2030 respectively on the basis of current policies.
• The share of renewable energy has increased to 13% in 2012 as a proportion of final
energy consumed and is expected to rise further to 21% in 2020 and 24% in 2030.
• The EU had installed about 44% of the world's renewable electricity (excluding
hydro) at the end of 2012.
• The energy intensity of the EU economy has reduced by 24% between 1995 and
2011 whilst the improvement by industry was about 30%.
• The carbon intensity of the EU economy fell by 28% between 1995 and 2010.
Much has also changed since 2008. Most obvious is the impact of the economic and financial
crisis which has affected Member States' capacity to invest. Fossil fuel prices remain high
which negatively affects the Union's trade balance and energy costs. In 2012, the EU's oil and
gas import bill amounted to more than €400 bill ion or approximately 3.1% of the Union's
GDP. There has been a decisive shift in the centre of gravity of global energy demand towards
emerging economics, notably China and India. At the same time, households and industrial
users are increasingly concerned by rising energy prices and price differentials with many of
the Union's trading partners most notably the USA. The internal energy market has developed
but new risks for fragmentation have emerged. The EU's Emissions Trading System (ETS) is