EU 2030 targets a ‘good’ step forward, but Brussels premature to get overly narcissistic

On 23 October, member states sealed a deal that commits the EU two binding targets: (1) To cut carbon emissions by at least 40% at 1990’s level; (2) To drive renewables in its energy mix up to at least 27%; and  a non-binding target to curb its energy use by at least 27% by 2030. The EU 2030 package is hailed as a ‘good’ step forward, but not yet a ‘great’ step towards the UN climate negotiations in Paris (COP 21) next year. Amid late night applause of state leaders at Brussels, French President François Hollande said the deal would “send a clear message to big polluters such as China and the United States…to agree on a global legally binding agreement.” His remark could be a motion of debate.

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EU’s energy security is about self-help, not seek-out

Amid escalating tension with Russia over Ukraine, Brussels centres on shale gas and non-Russian gas imports in its new energy security strategy unveiled in May this year. However, I cast great doubt that either the crisis is being used as a pretext to re-carbonise Europe’s energy sector, or the strategy document deplorably reflects how Brussels still pits emissions target and energy security goals against each other but favouring the latter. In the green and digital age, the key to accomplishing both missions, which should not be mutually exclusive, is empowering the people to empower themselves – proliferating “community-owned renewable energy schemes” in the EU, rather than revisiting the outmoded, high-carbon formula to secure energy supplies.