Comments on the Commission Communication on 'Energy efficiency and its contribution to energy security & the 2030 framework for climate and energy policy'

Orgalime welcomes the Commission´s Communication 'Energy Efficiency and its contribution to energy security and the 2030 Framework for Climate and Energy Policy', which presents strategic mid and long term objectives for the EU´s energy efficiency policy by assessing progress towards the 2020 target and by proposing a new 30% target for 2030. 

The Communication, in our view, underlines the need for commitment to implementing the existing 2020 target and successfully complements the Commission´s initial 2030 Energy and Climate Change Framework proposal in the area of energy efficiency. It thereby moves Europe towards establishing an integrated, holistic such 2030 Framework, which Europe needs as a matter of urgency to create sustainable jobs and growth in competitive, innovative areas, such as cutting edge technologies. 

The significant potential of energy efficiency and energy savings measures not only help for both, gaining time for a global climate change agreement and for boosting growth, as has been confirmed in the 2012 World Energy Outlook and recent Special Report on 'Redrawing the Energy Climate Map' of the International Energy Agency. 

The wider energy benefits of energy efficiency are wide ranging, from helping to control energy costs, alleviating energy poverty, increasing security of supply through less energy import dependence, allowing for the integration of a higher share of energy from renewable energy sources to increasing the overall robustness and stability of the EU´s energy system.