EU agrees renewable energy target

Bas

European Union leaders have agreed to adopt a binding target on the use of renewable energy, such as wind and solar power, officials say.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said Europe was now able to lead the way on climate change.

The 27 EU states will each decide how they contribute to meeting a 20% boost overall in renewable fuel use by 2020.

The measures could include a ban on filament light bulbs by 2010, forcing people to switch to fluorescent bulbs.

The bulbs last longer but more are more expensive to buy.

In another key measure, agreed on Thursday, EU leaders said they would cut carbon dioxide emissions by 20% from 1990 levels by 2020.

BBC world affairs correspondent Nick Childs says there is an air of real achievement in Brussels.

But, he says, the compromises over each nation's share of the burden in reaching the targets have yet to be negotiated, meaning the hard decisions may still lie ahead.

'Crucial issue'

Mr Barroso described the agreement as historic, saying it was the most significant in which he had played a part.

"We can say to the rest of the world, Europe is taking the lead, you should join us in fighting climate change," he said.

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair said: "These are a set of groundbreaking, bold, ambitious targets for the European Union.

"It gives Europe a clear leadership position on this crucial issue facing the world."

Looking ahead to the G8 summit of industrialised nations in June, Mr Blair said the European deal would give "a good chance" of getting the US, China and India on board too.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who chaired the two-day summit, also welcomed the package of binding measures.

"I personally am very satisfied and happy that it has been possible to open the door into a whole new dimension of European co-operation in the years to come in the area of energy and combating climate change," she said.

"We can avoid what could well be a human calamity."

The EU plan involves:

- A 10% minimum target on the use of bio-fuels in transport by 2020

- A commitment to increase use of solar, wind and hydroelectric power

- A possible ban on incandescent bulbs - with filaments - in offices, street lights and private homes by the end of the decade

EU officials are working on a directive that would compel the use of modern low-energy fluorescent light bulbs. It could come into force as early as next year.

The Australian government announced similar plans to phase out old-style filament bulbs last month.

Nuclear concession

The statement on renewable energy sources allows flexibility in how each country contributes to the overall target for the EU.

Poorer Eastern European countries, which are more dependent on heavy industry and carbon-heavy coal, had argued they would struggle to make the investment in wind farms and solar power necessary to meet binding targets.

The final text allayed their fears by stating that "differentiated national overall targets" for renewables would be set, "with due regard to a fair and adequate allocation taking account of different national starting points".

In what is viewed as a concession to France, the text recognises the contribution of nuclear energy in "meeting the growing concerns about safety of energy supply and carbon dioxide emissions reductions".

However, it also highlights safety concerns, stating that "nuclear safety and security" should be "paramount in the decision-making process".

It is thought the EU could offer to extend its 20% target for emissions cuts to 30% if other heavy polluters like the US, China and India come on board.

BBC news link
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"The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time."

- Abraham Lincoln

americandream

Amusing....this lot fought like the buggery to spread capitalism to the four corners of the globe and now THIS! Do these clowns actually believe that this bullshit is viable?
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Bugger me, I hear oil's runnin out mate!

Twilight · Expert Joined: Mar 02, 2007 Posts: 2971 Location: UK

Yes and no.

Increasing renewable fuel use 20% overall by 2020 sounds like an easy target they know they can announce as a success within a few years. I mean how hard is it to increase <5% by 20%? UK doubled its wind power installed capacity count in the last couple of years, and with all the mega-projects being approved now, a 20% increase across the EU will probably be exceeded by then just by organic growth of the industry.

Banning tungsten filament light bulbs wouldn't be hard either.

The rest of it is BS too, of the opposite sort. They know they won't have to deliver any of it, they'll be retired by then, their legacy assured by launching this and dozens of other meaningless initiatives, leaving their inevitable failure for their successors to quietly bury. Probably after trumpeting the success of installing an extra couple of hundred GW of wind and banning filament bulbs.

Honestly, judge the EU by personal experience, not what they say. I love so many things about it, not least the trains, but the official announcements everyone can just ignore.
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"The American people are watching the numbers climb higher and higher at the pump and they're waiting to see what the Congress will do." - George W Bush

Bas

I think it will be hard to resist coal once PO hits; when the economy is in crisis the environment always takes a back seat.

I still think that the ban on incandescent bulbs is a good idea though...
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"The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time."

- Abraham Lincoln

americandream

Twilight · Expert Joined: Mar 02, 2007 Posts: 2971 Location: UK

That's basically my outlook, preparation for the unknown is pointless and if we're going to end up as old men shoveling dirt, we might as well have some memories. Good health, fitness and local knowledge are the only investments necessary. There's five people queueing up for what each one of us has got if we don't want it.
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"The American people are watching the numbers climb higher and higher at the pump and they're waiting to see what the Congress will do." - George W Bush

Bas

lateStarter

If the end result turns out to be that it failed, but a few countries actually embarked on the renewable bandwagon in the process of playing along, then so be it. If a few places like Portugal, Finland, and Irealnd survive, they will have accomplished something.

Hopefully, the survivors will learn from our mistakes. I kind of doubt that they will, but what do I know...

How about this for an alternative approach: ALL CARS MUST BE DESTROYED NOW!!! If you can't walk, too bad...
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Remember, with globalisation "everyone is a winner" in the "race to the bottom". - rogerhb

Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. A.C. Clarke