07/06/2005 - Reducing
energy consumption in Europe is an easy
to reach target, but the European Parliament
is failing to support it. WWF says that
the draft directive voted today is not ambitious
enough.
Aiming at the promotion of more efficient
use of energy in Europe, the text voted
today includes an average saving target
of 1.3 per cent per year of energy distributed
and/or sold to final customers. It also
includes an average saving target of 1.7
per cent on energy distributed or sold annually
for the public sector. These targets should
have been higher, the global conservation
organisation adds.
"Only saving targets of at least 2.5
per cent for the private sector and 3 per
cent for the public sector could encourage
Member States and enterprises to take action
and have a real impact in fighting climate
change and promoting industry’s competitiveness",
said Mariangiola Fabbri, Energy efficiency
officer at WWF European Policy Office.
With an electricity demand constantly on
the rise in the EU, and an electricity production
which represents about one third of the
EU's CO2 emissions, the directive has a
great potential to address climate change
and reduce EU dependence on energy imports.
According to Commission’s data, total energy
end-use consumption in the EU could be reduced
by around 20 per cent by 2010 without reducing
comfort or standards of living, but this
huge potential has been neglected by the
Parliament.
WWF urges the EU Energy Council, due to
debate the text on June 27, to accept and
increase binding targets.
Note to editors:
• The proposal for a directive on energy
end-use efficiency and energy services was
presented by the European Commission in
December 2003. The EU Parliament voted today
in first reading. The text is now submitted
to the Energy Council and then will go through
the second reading.
