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The Green Economy
Back to Basics:
What is Climate Change?
 The word climate describes the average pattern of weather for a particular
region over a long period of time, as a result, climate is usually defined as the
"average weather" in a place. It includes patterns of temperature, precipitation,
humidity, wind and seasons. Climate patterns play a fundamental role in
shaping natural ecosystems, and the human economies and cultures that
depend on them. But the climate we’ve come to expect is not what it used to be.
 Climate change is the large-scale, long-term shift in the planet's weather
patterns or average temperatures. Though earth has had tropical climates and
ice ages many times in its 4.5 billion years, since the last ice age which ended
about 11,000 years ago, Earth's climate has been relatively stable at about 14 °C.
Today our climate is rapidly changing leading to many disruptive impacts. This
change is progressing faster than any seen in the last 2,000 years.
Why does this happen?
 Heat rays from the sun warm the earth’s surface. As the temperature
increases, heat is sent back into the atmosphere. Some of it is absorbed
or reflected back to the earth by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere,
like CO2, water vapour, nitrous oxide, methane and ozone. This natural
process is called ‘the greenhouse effect’ and it makes life possible on
our planet. Without this, the global average temperature would be -18°.
 Over the last century, the impact of human activity has taken its toll on
the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, of which
80% is CO2. This number is now higher than any in the last 650,000
years. The result is that the average global temperature has risen by
0.74°C and the average temperature in Europe by 1°C.
 By burning fossil fuels such as gas, oil and coal for energy, mankind has
released huge amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere. While other
greenhouse gases are released by certain industrial activities,
agriculture and waste dumps.
 The 11 hottest years on record have all occurred since the early 1990s.
 Scientists predict that global temperatures could rise by between 1.1 and 6.4 °C
over this century if no action is taken to reduce emissions.
 Each European is responsible for 11 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per
year, out of which close to nine tonnes are CO2 emissions.
 Households use one third of the energy consumed in the EU and are therefore
responsible for around 20% of the EU’s energy-related CO2 emissions. 70% of
the energy used by households is spent on heating our homes, 14% on heating
water and 12% on lighting and electric appliances.
 Private cars are responsible for 10% of the EU’s CO2 emissions.
 Europe is home to only 7% of the world’s population, but uses 20% of the
world’s ecosystem resources in terms of fibres, food, energy, and waste
absorption.
 On average, each European citizen produces 1 kg of waste every day. Every year,
we produce the equivalent weight of 4000 Eiffel Towers in waste packaging,
and it’s increasing.
Higher Temperatures
 Scientific research shows that the climate - that is, the average
temperature of the planet's surface - has risen by 0.89 °C from 1901 to
2012. Compared with climate change patterns throughout Earth's
history, this rate of temperature rise since the Industrial Revolution is
extremely high.
 The number of areas being affected by extreme heat are on the rise
with the hottest temperatures on the planet also increasing. Higher
temperatures can reduce crop yields and drive up energy usage.
 In the last decade, there were three times more weather-related natural
catastrophes in the world than in the 1960s. The scorching summer of
2003 contributed to the premature deaths of 35,000 Europeans in the
first two weeks of August, set off large-scale forest fires and caused
agricultural losses of more than €10 billion.
Changing Rainfall
 There have been observed changes in precipitation, with rainfall
increasing in the mid-latitudes of the northern hemisphere since the
beginning of the 20th century. There have also been changes between
seasons in different regions. For example, the UK's summer rainfall is
decreasing on average, while winter rainfall is increasing. There is also
evidence that heavy rainfall events have become more intensive,
especially over North America.
 As temperatures rise and the air becomes warmer, more moisture
evaporates from land and water into the atmosphere. More moisture in
the air generally means we can expect more rain and snow and more
heavy downpours. But this extra precipitation is not spread evenly
around the globe, and some places might actually get less precipitation
than they used to get. That's because climate change causes shifts in air
and ocean currents, which can change weather patterns.
Changes in Nature
 As climate change wreaks its havoc across the globe, ecosystems could
disappear altogether, or they may undergo serious and irreversible changes.
 As average temperatures increase, optimum habitat for many species will move
higher up mountains or further towards the Poles. Where there is no higher
ground or where changes are taking place too quickly for ecosystems and
species to adjust, local losses or even global extinctions will occur. Species such
as polar bears and penguins are particularly vulnerable, with walruses and seals
also under threat.
 Changes such as shorter winters can lead to mismatches between key elements
in an ecosystem, such as feeding periods for young birds and availability of
worms or insects for food. It also impacts on farmers’ growing seasons.
 Climatic records put together with long-term records of flowering and nesting
times show clear warming trends.
 In Britain flowering time and leaf-break records date back to 1736, thus
providing solid evidence of climate-related changes. Long-term trends towards
earlier bird breeding, earlier spring migrant arrival and later autumn departure
dates have been observed in North America, along with changes in migratory
patterns in Europe.
Rising Sea Levels
 Since 1900, sea levels have risen by about 10 cm around the UK and about 19 cm globally,
on average.
 One of the most pronounced effects of climate change has been the melting of masses of
ice around the world. Glaciers and ice sheets are large, slow-moving assemblages of ice
that cover about 10% of the world’s land area and exist on every continent except
Australia. They are the world’s largest reservoir of fresh water, holding approximately
75%.
 One of the best-documented examples of glacial retreat has been on Mount Kilimanjaro
in Africa. It is the tallest peak on the continent, and so, despite being located in the
tropics, it is high enough so that glacial ice has been present for many centuries.
However, over the past century the volume of Mount Kilimanjaro’s glacial ice has
decreased by about 80%. If this rate of loss continues, its glaciers will likely disappear
within the next decade. It is also estimated that 75% of the glaciers in the Swiss Alps will
disappear by 2050.
Melting Ice Caps
 The area of sea covered by Arctic ice at the North Pole has
shrunk by 10% in recent decades, and the thickness of the ice
above the water has decreased by about 40%. On the other side
of the world, the ice sheet above the Antarctic continent have
become unstable.
 By affecting the temperature and precipitation of a particular
area, both of which are key factors in the ability of a glacier to
replenish its volume of ice, climate change affects the mass
balance of glaciers and ice sheets. When the temperature exceeds
a particular level or if warm temperatures lasts for a long enough
period, and/or there is insufficient precipitation, glaciers and ice
sheets will lose mass.
What has the EU done so far?
 The European Union has been at the forefront of international efforts to
combat climate change. This takes place under the umbrella of the 1992 UN
Climate Change Convention and its 1997 Kyoto Protocol which sets targets for
the greenhouse emissions of developed countries.
 The European Commission has developed many different measures to help EU
Member States reach their Kyoto targets. Governments set limits for emissions
from the industrial and energy sectors by allocating emission allowances with
companies allowed to trade these allowances to keep costs low. This is known
as emissions trading. Other measures taken by the EU seek to improve the
energy efficiency of industrial plants, buildings and household appliances.
 The Kyoto Protocol targets for reducing emissions expired in 2012. To prevent
global warming from reaching dangerous proportions, worldwide emissions of
greenhouse gases will have to be cut to around half of their 1990 levels by 2050,
and emissions from developed countries by 60-80%.
 Europe 2020’s ‘Green Economy’ marks the next step in the European
Commissions fight against climate change.
What is Europe 2020
 Europe 2020 is a 10-year strategy proposed by
the European Commission on 3 March 2010 for
advancement of the economy of the European Union. It
aims at "smart, sustainable, inclusive growth" with greater
coordination of national and European policy. It follows
the Lisbon Strategy for the period 2000–2010.
 The strategy identifies five headline targets the European
Union should take to boost growth and employment....
Main Targets of Europe 2020
 To raise the employment rate of the population aged 20–64 from
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the current 69% to at least 75%.
To achieve the target of investing 3% of GDP in research and
development. In particular by improving the conditions for
investment by the private sector, and to develop a new indicator
to track innovation.
To reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20% compared to
1990 levels or by 30% if the conditions are right. Increase the
share of renewable energy in final energy consumption to 20%,
and achieve a 20% increase in energy efficiency.
To reduce the share of early school leavers to 10% from the
current 15% and increase the share of the population aged 30–34
having completed tertiary education from 31% to at least 40%.
To reduce the number of Europeans living below national
poverty lines by 25%, lifting 20 million people out of poverty.
What has this to do with Climate
Change and the Environment?
 One of the primary aims of Europe 2020 is to create a ‘Green Economy’.
The green economy is defined as an economy that results in reducing
environmental risks and ecological scarcities, and that aims for
sustainable development without degrading the environment. It is
closely related with ecological economics, but has a more politically
applied focus.
 In the past, economic growth often seemed to depend on using up
natural resources as though supplies were unlimited. The result is a
'resource crisis', with a threat of shortages and rising prices. Today,
growing numbers of citizens and economists are looking to different
economic models, where wealth can be created without harming the
environment.
 The EU is attempting to help citizens and governments
to ’green their economies’, through better management of
resources, economic instruments that are good for the environment,
support for innovation, better policies for water and waste, and efforts
to boost sustainable consumption and production.
Europe 2020 Strategy Targets on
Climate Change and Energy
 The EU has committed to limiting the mean global temperature
rise to 2 °C above pre-industrial levels, through reducing the
emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs). Focusing on the most
important one, carbon dioxide (CO2), the Europe 2020 strategy
aims to turn the EU into a so-called ‘low carbon’ economy based
on renewable energy sources and energy efficiency.
 The Europe 2020 strategy sets three objectives for climate and
energy policy, to be reached by 2020
- Reducing GHG emissions by at least 20 % compared with
1990 levels;
- Increasing the share of renewable energy in final energy
consumption to 20 %
- Moving towards a 20 % increase in energy efficiency
 These targets are also known as the ‘20-20-20’ targets.
Managing Resources
 We need natural resources like metals, minerals, forests, land,
food, air and water for prosperity and well-being, but we
are using them up faster than they can be replaced. When we
destroy animals and plants that keep our ecosystems in balance,
we are storing up problems for the future. What can we do about
it?
 By 2050, if we follow our current path, we would be extracting
five times more resources than we do today. That probably won't
be possible. More than 60% of our ecosystems are already overexploited, world fish stocks face grave threats, and we are
endangering the quality of our water and air by cutting down too
many trees.
Continued...
 The EU has a long-term strategy to reduce the damage caused by the unsustainable use of
natural resources. The aim is to create more value while using fewer resources, and
substituting them with more environmentally favourable choices wherever possible.
 We need to reduce the environmental impacts of production and consumption at every
stage – from the extraction of raw materials to the use of the products they become and
the waste they create when disposed of. The best way to do that is to improve the
design of products and encourage manufacturing processes that use materials less
wastefully.
 When we reduce the amount of materials we use, and re-use and recycle, we recover
valuable materials and help reduce emissions. Recycling aluminium saves around 95% of
energy compared to extraction, for example. Likewise, reducing the amount of waste
going to landfill reduces emissions of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.
 We also need better information about what we are doing. GDP measures monetary
values, but it doesn't measure things that aren't traded, like a clean environment.
Additional indicators – which the Commission is trying to develop – would help us
measure environmental, social and well-being issues better. This would help us
understand the sort of changes we will need to be more resource-efficient.
Using the Economy for a
Sustainable future
 If people and businesses automatically thought about the impacts on
resources, health and the environment when making decisions,
many problems would be avoided. One way of encouraging people to
protect nature, avoid pollution, eliminate waste and manage natural
resources is to introduce a financial incentive. This is why environment
policy tries to use economic incentives to encourage changes in behaviour.
 Much of Europe is locked in to business models, infrastructure and
behaviour that use resources with too little regard for efficiency. But our
world is changing, and the end of unlimited resources is already here. It's
time for a shift to resource efficiency in all sectors of industry.
 No one loves taxes, but policymakers can use them to help society alter its
course. By increasing taxes on activities that harm the environment, and
reducing taxes on labour, we can improve the environment and create
more jobs. A number of EU countries have already introduced such
reforms.
Using Innovations
 To protect the environment and make EU industry more competitive, we need
technologies, processes and business models that use resources more efficiently. We
call these solutions "eco-innovations". The EU is aiming to transform Europe into a
resource-efficient, low-carbon economy.
 Eco-industries prevent and correct environmental damage and solve problems like
noise and damage to ecosystems. They make a vital contribution in sectors like
waste and waste-water management, renewable energy sources, air pollution and
sustainable construction.
 Environmental technologies are an important part of the EU economy. They have an
annual turnover of €320 billion, and they have grown 8% per year since 2004. The
EU has one third of the world market, which could double to more than €2,200
billion by 2020.
 The European Union supports green technology and green products through a
range of funding schemes and policies. An Eco-innovation Action Plan targets
drivers of eco-innovation and barriers to its uptake. It helps fund research and
innovation projects and eco-innovative companies. The Competitiveness and
Innovation Programme provides access to financing for small firms, facilitating
research and innovation.
Resource Efficiency in the EU
 The growth of the world economy is putting unsustainable pressure on Earth’s resources.
This will get worse. More competition for limited resources will mean higher prices and
instability – global trends that will have huge impacts on the European economy. This is
why the EU is pushing for “resource efficiency”, which means using resources in a more
sustainable way. Raw materials like water, minerals and timber need to be managed more
efficiently throughout their life-cycle, from when they are first extracted to when they are
finally disposed of.
 Depending less on limited resources will make Europe less vulnerable to supply shortages
and volatile market prices. Green technologies and renewable energy, eco-industries and
recycling can all help. Everyone will do better as a result. If we carried on using resources
at the current rate, by 2050 it would take the equivalent of more than two planets to
sustain us!
 The EU vision is of an economy that grows while respecting resource constraints and
planetary boundaries. To become more resource-efficient, millions of companies and
consumers will need to transform the ways they produce and consume. Europe 2020,
aims to make the EU a smart, sustainable and inclusive economy. One of the building
blocks of this initiative is the Roadmap to a Resource-Efficient Europe. It shows the way
to a more sustainable economy, with policy initiatives that aim to stimulate greater
innovation for short-term and long-term economic and environmental benefits.
Sustainable Production and
Consumption
 To face the challenges confronting us today, we need to change the way we produce and
consume goods. We need to create more value while using fewer inputs, reduce costs and
minimise impacts on the environment. We need to do more with less. More efficient
production processes and better environmental management systems can significantly
reduce pollution and waste, and save water and other resources. This is good for
business too, as it can cut operating costs and reduce dependency on raw materials
 Eco-design and eco-innovation can ease the impacts of producing goods. They can
help improve the overall environmental performance of products throughout their lifecycle, and boost demand for better production technologies.
 Our biggest consumption impacts on the environment come from food, buildings and
transport, and this is where most change is needed. Improving construction and use of
buildings in the EU, for example, could cut 42 % of our final energy consumption and
about 35 % of our greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce water use by up to 30 %.
 Eco-labelling can help consumers make more informed choices. The EU Eco-label
identifies products and services that have a reduced environmental impact throughout
their life cycle. The criteria are developed by scientists, NGOs and stakeholders to create
a reliable way to make environmentally responsible choices.
Preventing and Managing Waste
 Traditionally waste has been seen as a source of pollution. But well managed
waste can be a valuable source of materials, especially when many are
becoming scarce. The EU economy uses 16 tonnes of materials per person per
year, of which 6 tonnes becomes waste, half of it going to landfill. Many
Member States still rely on landfills to manage their waste, even though they
are unsustainable.
 Landfills can contaminate soil and pollute water and air. Uncontrolled
dumping can release dangerous chemicals and endanger health. Above all, the
valuable materials in the waste are lost.
 The best option is to stop creating waste. When that isn't possible, other good
choices are re-using, recycling and recovery. Good waste management can saves
valuable resources promotes job creation , avoids costly clean-up operations,
and prevents health problems.
 According to a 2012 study, if all EU waste legislation was fully implemented,
Europe would save €72 billion a year, the turnover of the waste management
and recycling sector would rise by €42 billion, and it would create 400,000 jobs
by 2020.
So why is this not happening?
 Often, prices don't include the true cost of disposing of
goods after use. If they did, this would help prevent waste. Illegal
practices are widespread, especially in countries where waste
isn't separated, and where recycling, recovery, and legal
enforcement are weak.
 The EU is trying to improve waste management in Member
States that have weak waste policies, recommending economic
instruments such as landfill taxes, making producers take goods
back at the end of their life, and asking citizens to pay for their
waste.
 EU laws on items like electrical equipment, packaging, batteries,
and cars to be scrapped have brought about clear improvements
in waste collection and management, and many products now
contain fewer hazardous substances as a result. But there is
still room for improvement!
Managing Water Resources
 Access to good quality water is essential for people, nature and economic activities. Large
amounts of water are required to produce energy, grow food and manufacture everyday
goods. Restoring waterways to their natural state is essential to ensure that fish, birds and
animals get the food and habitats they need.
 Water follows a cycle – it circulates continuously between sea, air and land, through
rivers, lakes and the ground and back to the sea.
 Under Europe's central piece of water legislation – the Water Framework Directive – river
basins are systems to be managed in a coordinated way, even if different countries are
involved. The aim of the legislation is to ensure good quality water around the EU by
2015.
 A healthy marine environment is also vital. Marine pollution often comes from land, but
it can come from sea-based activities or from the atmosphere. The Marine Strategy
Framework Directive adopts a coordinated approach to managing human activities that
have an impact on the marine environment. It aims to have marine waters healthy by
2020.Other EU legislation safeguards drinking water and bathing water.
 To manage water resources properly, quality needs to be monitored closely. Member
States check the state of their waters and draw up plans showing how they will clean
them. These plans are stored in a central database called WISE
EU’s GHG Emission Reductions
 EU’s GHG emission reductions are approaching the 2020 target, a
reduction of 20% compared to 1990s levels. The main policy
instruments to achieve the target are the EU Emissions Trading
Systems (EU ETS) and the Effort Sharing Decision.
 The EU ETS sets a single EU-wide cap for more than 11, 000 power
stations and industrial plants, as well as the aviation industry. The cap
shrinks each year to reach 21 % emission reductions compared with
2005 by 2020.
 The Effort Sharing Decision establishes binding annual GHG emissions
targets for Member States for emissions from sectors not included in
the EU ETS. Member States’ targets for the non-EU ETS sectors (such
as transport, buildings, agriculture and waste) vary between a 20 %
reduction to a 20 % increase in emissions by 2020, reflecting
differences in starting points and wealth. Together, the EU ETS and the
Effort Sharing Decision will reduce overall emissions to 14 % below
2005 levels by 2020. This will equal a 20 % cut below 1990 levels.
Continued...
 By 2012, the EU as a whole had cut man-made GHG
emissions by 17.9 % compared with their 1990 levels. The
economic crisis, which started in 2008, led to an overall
economic slowdown and resulted in a fall in GHG
emissions. A sharp drop of 7.3 % in 2009 was followed by a
rebound in 2010. However, the downward trend continued
in 2011. In 2012 GHG emissions fell further, by 1.3 %
compared with 2011, and GDP fell by 0.4 %.
 Ireland alongside Belgium, Cyprus and in particular
Luxembourg, have seen a considerable decrease in
emissions. On the contrary, per capita GHG emissions rose
in some eastern European Member States between 2005
and 2012, with the largest increases taking place in the
Baltic countries Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania.
Greenhouse gas emissions per
sector, EU-28, 1990, 2000,
2005, 2012
(Million tones of CO2 equivalent)
Source: European Environment
Agency, Eurostat online data code
Global CO2 Emissions and mean
temperature continue to rise
 Despite reductions in the EU, global CO2 emissions from fuel
combustion rose by 49 % between 1990 and 2011. Most of the
increase took place in emerging economies. Emissions growth
was strongest in China, both in relative and absolute terms.
Between 1990 and 2011, China’s annual CO2 emissions more than
tripled and the country overtook the United States as the world’s
biggest emitter. At the same time, its per-capita emissions
represented only 84 % of EU-27 levels in 2011.
 Although less important in absolute terms, emissions in the rest
of Asia and the rest of the world also grew significantly in relative
terms between 1990 and 2011 (172 % and 79 % respectively). As a
result of these trends, the EU’s share of global CO2 emissions has
been shrinking, from almost a fifth in 1990 to 11.4 % in 2011.
Continued...
 Rising emissions have dramatically increased CO2 concentrations
in the atmosphere. Although there is a time lag between CO2 being
emitted and the corresponding increase in average global surface
temperature, recordings already show a clear upward trend.
 Between 2001 and 2010, global surface temperature was 0.88 °C
higher than during the first decade of the 20th century. Current
projections estimate that global mean temperatures could continue
to rise by as much as 1.1 °C to 6.4 °C by 2100 if CO2 emissions remain
at current levels.
The Impact on EU Countries
 In Europe and globally, the rise in temperature has already led to
observable changes in the natural systems and society. Damage costs
from natural disasters have increased and are likely to rise substantially
in the future.
 A recent European Environment Agency (EEA) assessment shows that
the negative impacts of climate change will not affect European regions
equally. Climate change can increase existing vulnerabilities such as
exposure to flood risk in coastal areas or drought in the Mediterranean
region.
 By hitting marginalised regions and poor people the hardest, climate
change might deepen socioeconomic imbalances in Europe. This could
undermine the Europe 2020 strategy’s objective of inclusive growth.
 EU emission cuts alone cannot halt climate change, but if it can show
that a low-carbon economy is feasible, and can even increase
innovation and employment, it will serve as a role model to other
regions.
Renewable Energy and the EU
 The second energy and climate headline target of the
Europe 2020 strategy is to increase the share of
renewable energy in gross final energy consumption to
20 % by 2020.
 Between 2004 and 2012, the share of renewable energy
increased by 70 %, reaching 14.1 % of gross final energy
consumption in 2012. The two main drivers of this
increase were support schemes for renewable energy
technology and shrinking costs.
 The EU is now the world’s biggest renewable energy
investor.
Energy
Consumption
•The expansion of renewable
energy sources reduces the EU’s
dependence on imported fuels and
by creating jobs, contributes to the
Europe 2020 strategy’s employment
objective.
•The dependence on imports
exposes the European economy to
high price volatility, significant
costs and the risk of supply
shortages, for example, due to
geopolitical conflicts. Renewable
energies, most of which can be
sourced domestically, reduce these
risks. They also generate more of
their value added within EU
borders, unlike imported fossil
fuels.
•All Member States have increased
their renewable energy share
between 2005 and 2012.
Renewable Energies
 Renewable energy can be generated from a range of
sources, including hydro, wind, solar and geothermal
power. Biomass, the only renewable energy source
contributing to all energy use sectors remains by far the
most important source in the EU.
 However, wind and solar energy are growing the fastest. In
2012, the EU generated 17.7 million tonnes of oil equivalent
from wind energy, a more than nine-fold increase
compared with 2000. In the same year, solar energy
contributed a total of 9.1 Mtoe, 21 times as much as in 2000.
 Renewable energies provided 15.6 % of Europe’s energy for
heating and cooling in 2012, up from 9.9 % in 2004.
Energy Efficiency Improvements
 Delivering the same service or product but using less
energy is one of the most cost-effective options for
reducing GHG emissions.
 The headline target is to move towards a 20 % increase in
energy efficiency. In absolute terms this means that by
2020, EU energy consumption should not exceed 1, 483
Mtoe of primary energy or 1, 086 Mtoe of final energy.
 An analysis underlines the need to further pursue energyefficiency measures. Continuous effort can ensure that PEC
(primary energy consumption) will remain on a downward
path even when economic growth accelerates again. The
trend in final energy consumption has closely followed the
trend in primary energy consumption, reaching 1, 103 Mtoe
in 2012.
Energy Efficient
Targets per Member
State
•25 Member States have reduced
primary energy consumption
between 2005 and 2012 by values
ranging from 1.2 % to 25.9 %.
•A look at the data for 2007, the
year before the onset of the
economic crisis, shows that
reduced economic output in
addition to energy-efficiency
measures also helped lower
consumption.
•In the remaining three Member
States, primary energy
consumption has gone up by
0.1 % to 12 % since 2005,
stressing the importance of
additional efforts to improve
energy efficiency.
Outlook toward 2020
 At first glance, the EU has made substantial progress
towards its energy and climate objectives. In 2012, GHG
emissions were down by 18 % compared with 1990 levels,
approaching the headline target to reduce emissions by
20 % by 2020. To achieve the target of improving energy
efficiency by 20 % by 2020, the EU has to reduce PEC by a
further 6.3 % over a period of eight years.
 With respect to renewable energies, progress towards a
restructured low-carbon economy is clearly noticeable.
Between 2004 and 2012, the share of final energy from
renewable source increased by 70 %, reaching 14.1 % in
gross final energy consumption in 2012. Thanks to effective
support schemes and dramatic cost reductions, the share of
wind and solar energy has increased particularly quickly.
Efforts needed for Europe 2020
Targets
 According to the latest Member State projections, the EU-28 will overachieve
its 2020 emission reduction target for the sectors not covered by the EU ETS by
1 %. However, only 15 Member States are expected to reach their commitments
with the existing policies and measures, while 13 are unlikely to be able to meet
their commitments unless additional measures are implemented.
 With respect to the renewable energy target, the European Commission’s 2013
Progress Report warns that more effort will be needed to sustain high levels of
investment in renewable energy projects. Compared with the National
Renewable Energy Action Plans prepared by Member States, projections
indicate that only 50 % of total wind generation planned in 2020 might
actually be produced.
 As foreseen by the Europe 2020 strategy, tapping the remaining greenhouse gas
reduction potential can have significant socioeconomic and environmental
benefits. The EU can create jobs in high-technology industries; it can become a
lead market in fields with high global demand and reduce energy dependence.
More renewables and improved energy efficiency could save the EU between
€175 and 320 billion of energy import costs per year over the next 40 years.
What can I do to help?
Everyone has a role to play in combating climate
change.
Here is a list of things we can all easily do.....
Turn Down
 Don’t overheat your home. Reducing the temperature by just 1°C can cut up to 7%
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off your family’s energy bill. 70% of the energy used by households is for heating.
Programme your home’s thermostat so that at night or while you are out of the
house, the temperature is set at 17°C and by the time you wake up or return home,
the temperature is at a comfortable 20°C again.
Save hot water by taking a shower rather than a bath – it requires four times less
energy.
When you make a hot drink, just boil the amount of water you need.
When you air your room, leave the window wide open for a few minutes and then
close it again, rather than letting the heat escape over a long period.
Defrost your fridge regularly. You can save up to 30% of the energy used.
Don’t set your fridge at the highest cooling setting. When the temperature of your
fridge is lower than 5°C, you will only consume more energy; your food will not keep
fresh longer.
Don’t put hot or warm food in the fridge. Let it cool down first and place it in the
fridge afterwards.
Switch Off
 Don’t forget to switch off the lights when you don’t need them.
 Don’t leave your TV or computer on standby. On average, a TV set uses 45%
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of its energy in standby mode. If all Europeans avoided the standby mode,
they would save enough electricity to power a country the size of Belgium.
Don’t leave your mobile phone charging when the battery is full. If you do,
95% of the electricity is wasted – only 5% is used to actually charge your
phone.
Use energy-saving light bulbs – they last longer and use five times less
electricity than conventional bulbs.
When choosing new household appliances (fridges, washing machines,
etc.), consider the European Grade A+ label – that shows that they are
energy efficient.
If you turn off the tap while brushing your teeth, you save several litres of
water.
Recycle
 When shopping, use a reusable bag instead of a disposable plastic one.
 Bring used glass to the bottle bank and sort paper, cardboard and cans
from the rest of your waste. Recycling aluminium cans consumes 10
times less energy than producing new ones. Factories use far less
energy making paper from old newspapers than from wood pulp.
 If you have a garden, compost your biodegradable waste.
 Choose products that come with little packaging, and buy refills when
you can.
 Take your lunch in a reusable lunch box instead of aluminium foil or
paper bags.
Walk
 For short distances, for example a few kilometres, avoid taking the car.
Walk or cycle instead!
 When you travel further, consider taking a bus or a train.
 Also avoid air travel if you can – aeroplanes emit a huge amount of
CO2 into the atmosphere. Flying is the world’s fastest growing source
of CO2 emissions.
 If you are about to buy a car, think about buying a more fuel efficient
model – you will also save money on your fuel bill! Under European
legislation, car manufacturers must display information about CO2
emissions and fuel consumption.
Additional Activities
 Plant a tree in your garden or neighbourhood! Five trees
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soak up around one tonne of CO2 throughout their life
time.
Look for goods with the European Eco-label (symbolised
by a little flower) in shops and supermarkets.
Use as little paper as possible: photocopy on both sides.
Use email when possible.
Consume locally produced, seasonal food. Not only is it
healthier, it is also better for the environment!
Eat less meat. Producing meat is CO2 intensive.
EU Sustainable Energy Week
 The EU Sustainable Energy Week takes place during the month of
June with Energy Days being organised throughout the whole
month.
 The aim is to inspire consumers, public authorities and other
stakeholders to join forces in shaping Europe's sustainable energy
future. By gathering thousands of people and exchanging
experiences in all fields.
 The EU Sustainable Energy Week helps building the energy
community that is indispensable for shaping the Energy Union.
Environmental Agencies
If you have any questions about climate change, renewable energy or what you can be
doing to help, contact the following agencies for impartial help and advice...
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An Taisce
Coastwatch
Conservation Volunteers, Ireland
Crann
Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government.
ECO-UNESCO
EPA (Environment Protection Agency)
EU Environmental Information and Legislation Database
http://www.ncte.ie/environ/welcome.htm
Friends of the Earth, Ireland
IEN (Irish Environmental Network)
Irish Wildlife Trust
National Parks and Wildlife Service
Teagasc