Friends of the Earth Europe, CAN Europe and 13 other NGOs and associations [1] are urging ministers to turn promises into action during the informal meeting of energy ministers in Horsens tomorrow (19th April). They must push for a binding 20% energy savings target, ensure a robust 1.5% annual savings obligation for energy companies, ensure deep renovation of buildings and develop national renovation roadmaps. This is the only way to ensure Europe embraces the benefits of energy savings.
Meeting the 20% savings target will lead to net savings of €100 billion per year – a great asset in times of constricted government budgets. It will create up to 2 million new jobs by 2020, and bring Europe back on track towards 80-95% greenhouse gas emission reductions.
A joint letter sent today calls on ministers to reconsider their collective position on the legislative proposal for the draft Energy Efficiency Directive.
Erica Hope, Senior Policy Officer at CAN Europe said: “It’s time Ministers wake up to the tremendous benefits that energy savings would bring to their economies and citizens.”
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[1] Climate Action Network Europe (CAN-E), CDM Watch, CECED (European Committee of Domestic Equipment Manufacturers), ClientEarth, The Climate Group, Concerned Citizens Against Climate Change, Energy Cities, Eurima (European Insulation Manufacturers Association), ECEEE (European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy), European Environmental Bureau (EEB), European Alliance to Save Energy (EU-ASE), Europan Lamp Companies Federation (ELCFED), Friends of the Earth Europe, PU Europe (Polyurethane insulation manufacturers association), WWF
