The EU’s newly-agreed renewable energy and energy efficiency targets put the bloc on track to cut emissions by 60 percent in 2050 compared to 1990, WindEurope stated Wednesday.
According to the statement, the European Commission (EC) called for the bloc to aim for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 in its new decarbonization strategy.
'But that will still not be enough to meet the Paris target of keeping temperature rises to well below 2 degrees,' WindEurope stated.
The EC has therefore set out different scenarios covering various levels of renewables expansion, transport electrification and measures in other sectors.
According to EU, the Energy Roadmap 2050 explores the transition of the energy system in ways that would be compatible with greenhouse gas reductions target while also increasing competitiveness and security of supply.
'To achieve these goals, significant investments need to be made in new low-carbon technologies, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and grid infrastructure. Because investments are made for a period of 20 to 60 years, policies that promote a stable business climate which encourages low-carbon investments must start being made today,' the EU Energy Roadmap 2050 shows.
The European Commission's 2011 Energy Roadmap set out four main routes to a more sustainable, competitive and secure energy system in 2050: energy efficiency, renewable energy, nuclear energy, and carbon capture and storage.
It combined these routes in different ways to create and analyze seven possible scenarios for 2050.
WindEurope CEO Giles Dickson confirmed that aiming for carbon-neutrality by 2050 is 'absolutely the way to go and the right thing to do.'
He also warned that getting to climate neutrality by 2050 would be a challenge.
'But it’s one that’s realistic and affordable, especially if we consider that it will reduce climate mitigation costs. It’ll cost less than 3 percent of Europe’s GDP. But it’s not a cost, it’s also a real opportunity for Europe’s economy. It’ll give a major boost to jobs and growth,' Dickson added.
'Europe has done quite well so far at getting renewables into electricity but much less well at getting them into industrial processes, buildings and transport. We have to change that if we’re serious about decarbonization,' he said.
He maintained that it is possible to increase the share of electricity in energy from 24 percent today to 62 percent by 2050.
'If we do it with renewables, we can cut energy-related emissions in Europe by 90 percent by 2050. And this’ll bring many other benefits including improved air quality and reduced reliance on expensive fossil fuel imports,' he concluded.
By Gulsen Cagatay
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr