Climate change is a major threat which requires urgent action at an international scale. We are strongly committed to reducing carbon emissions and meeting the EUs climate targets for 2020 and its 2050 climate vision. Delivering these targets and vision depends on an appropriate policy framework that enables cost-effective investments in low-carbon technologies. We have been active in the global climate change negotiations since before the United Nations Climate Change Convention in Rio de Janeiro (1992). We have consistently adopted a proactive approach in developing market-oriented policies and measures that will help to mitigate climate change. We recognise that carbon emissions will have to fall even more to halt and reverse the threat of climate change. It is important that the policies and measures to achieve this come at the lowest cost for industry and for society as a whole. At national level our members have contributed significantly to emissions reductions, both in electricity generation and in the use of electricity. And this contribution is only expected to grow in future. In fact, electricity is a clean energy vector: users do not emit any carbon when they consume electricity, while carbon emissions at the point of generation are capped and progressively being reduced under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). The move to full auctioning of European Union Allowance units (EUAs) from 2013 represents a sea change for the ETS. It will involve the sale of approximately 10 billion allowances across the EU for the period 2013 to 2020. The electricity sector, which represents 60% of EU ETS emissions, will be the only sector to face full auctioning of ETS allowances as of 2013, thereby contributing decisively to the EUs flagship decarbonisation policy. In addition, electricity companies are already involved in national strategies to adapt to a changing climate. While awaiting further adaptation initiatives from the EU, we are discussing with EU institutions and stakeholders which impacts climate change could have on the power sector.
Posted on: Sun, 16 Mar 2014 10:00:02 +0000
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015