EU Roadmap to a Competitive Low-Carbon Europe by 2050
12th March 2011 by Madlen King
Earlier this week the Commission set out its roadmap for transforming the European Union into a competitive, low-carbon economy by 2050. The Roadmap describes a pathway, and provides guidance to reach the EU’s objective of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 80-95% of 1990 levels by 2050 in the most cost-effective way. To get there, Europe’s emissions would need to be 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 and 60% below by 2040.
Connie Hedegaard, The European Commissioner for Climate Action, was quoted within the press release: “The low carbon economy can be built by further developing proven technologies that exist already today. In this transition, all economic sectors need to contribute, including agriculture, construction and transport. By describing the cost effective pathway to move Europe to a low carbon future, our Roadmap provides a clear and predictable framework for business and governments to prepare their low-carbon strategies and long-term investments”
The Roadmap also shows how the efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions should be divided between the different economic sectors.
The power sector is concluded to have the biggest potential for cutting emissions with ‘almost totally elimination’ of CO2 emissions perceived to be possible by 2050, through use of renewable sources, nuclear power and plants fitted with Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). But also through a strengthened cap on the sector under the EU ETS and investment in smart grids.
In the transport sector the Roadmap calls for improvements in passenger car fuel efficiency and a shift to hybrid and electric cars, and for the increased use of sustainable biofuels in the aviation sector.
Energy performance in the built environment is proposed to be improved through stricter energy performance standards for buildings and a ‘sustainable construction’ strategy.
The application of advanced resource and energy efficient industrial processes, equipment, and abatement are targeted at addressing the emissions from energy intensive industries.
Whilst emphasis is placed on the management of agriculture to cut emissions from fertiliser, manure and livestock and contribute to the storage of CO2.
The full Roadmap document can be accessed here.
Madlen King is the Global Head of Climate Change & Sustainability. She ensures the technical integrity of LRQA climate change and sustainability services and liaises with external bodies and governments on climate change. Within this role, Madlen is responsible for the service design, delivery and maintenance of accreditations for all GHG validation and verification schemes [...]