I am a great supporter of all strategies that aim to improve the environment. As an individual, I do my small bit by recycling and reusing and such like, but obviously there is much more that can and should be done. The truth of the matter is that, until recently, the environment was not deemed to be an important issue. Not too long ago, environmental issues were considered to be important only by eccentric people who actually thought that man did not have the right to do as he pleased with the environment. Then, environmental concerns were seen to be avant-garde and daring and fashionable, but still not topics for serious people and not issues that the real world had to deal with. Now we realise that the environment actually has a profound effect on our health, on our lifestyle, on the economy and suddenly the whole subject is treated in a totally different tone.
At the 2006 Spring European Council, it was agreed that moving towards an efficient and integrated EU energy policy was imperative. There are various challenges to be faced, primarily climate change, increased import dependence and higher energy prices; these are challenges faced by all EU States. A European strategy is seen to be imperative in these circumstances in order to combat both present and future scenarios.
Climate change is one of the greatest challenges. There is a real possibility that global temperatures will rise during this century by more than 5°C. At present, it appears that EU emissions will increase by around five per cent over the next 20 years and the EU’s energy import dependence will rise from 50 per cent of total EU energy consumption today, to 65 per cent by 2030. The 2007 Spring European Council agreed on a set of targets to back global efforts to combat climate change. Targets were set on greenhouse gas emissions and renewable energy and the goal is to have a true internal market for energy. The result that is hoped for is a low carbon economy through an internal market that at the same time will also develop a clean and efficient energy mix. It is also essential to have the appropriate research and development in place in order to meet future challenges and to be at the forefront of developments in this area.
Energy production and use are the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions; therefore the Energy Policy for Europe has the following three objectives:
• increasing security of
supply
• ensuring the competitiveness of European economies and the availability of affordable energy
• promoting environmental sustainability and combating climate change.
The 2007 Spring European Council agreed on the following specific areas for priority action:
• a firm commitment to achieve a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 20 per cent by 2020 compared to 1990;
• a binding overall goal of 20 per cent for renewable energy sources by 2020, compared to the present 6.5 per cent;
• a binding minimum target of 10 per cent for the share of bio fuels in overall transport petrol and diesel consumption by 2020.
Despite the energy challenges it faces, Europe wastes at least 20 per cent of its energy due to inefficiency. Inefficiency will be costing us more than €100 billion a year by 2020. Improving our efficiency is deemed to be by far the most effective way to ensure growth in the vital areas of security of energy supply and the reduction of carbon emissions, and to ensure competitiveness. It also stimulates a market for energy-efficient technologies and products.
The general opinion is that global warming is caused mainly by greenhouse gases, principally through the use of fossil fuels. Energy efficiency and use of renewable energy sources are therefore extremely important and have the added bonus of lessening the impact of fluctuating oil prices. The development of environmentally friendly technologies also has both medium and long-term benefits; as medium-term they help boost sustainable economic growth and long-term will help Europe to become a leader in this area of development, with all the possibilities that implies.
How can we make sure that this change is implemented? Policy-makers both locally and in the EU and, ultimately, globally have to be made aware that this is important to us and that we expect them to take the environment on board in all its facets and endeavour to implement change now and not later. There should be no more gimmicks that use environmental issues as an excuse for self-gratification or, worse still, as another discrete, or not so discrete, tax imposed on us. Residents of our beautiful islands want, expect and, even more importantly, deserve positive and proactive environmental decisions.
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Dr Micallef Stafrace is a Labour Party candidate in the forthcoming European Parliament elections.