Europe could double its greenhouse gas emission reduction target

Monday, 05 April 2010 16:41

SEI report on 40 percent emissions cuts in Europe presented at European Sustainable Energy Week.

Stockholm Environment Institute in partnership with Friends of the Earth Europe proves for the first time that Europe could double its greenhouse gas emission reduction target for 2020.

The research, ‘Europe’s Share of the Climate Challenge: Domestic Actions and International Obligations to Protect the Planet’ shows how Europe can cut domestic emissions by 40% in 2020, and by 90% in 2050, compared to 1990 levels. This is the minimum scale and speed of reductions science says is likely to be needed from rich countries to avert a climate catastrophe and would enable the European Union to live up to its historical responsibility for causing climate change.

Renewable energy can feed Europe's electricity needs
The report, which was originally presented during the COP15 meeting in December 2009, was presented again during the European Sustainable Energy Week in Brussels in March 2010.

One of the first events of the week was a workshop organised by EEAC in cooperation with the EESC (European Economic and Social Committee) on “Scenarios and Policies for Decarbonisation”.

A key conclusion from the workshop was that renewable sources in Europe have the potential to provide most if not all the electricity needed. A renewables based electricity system can be achieved by 2050 at competitive costs while respecting biodiversity and while ensuring that the electricity demand is met at all times.