WWF European Policy Office

36 Avenue Tervuren Box 12

1040 Brussels

Belgium

t: +32 2 743 8816

f: +32 2 743 8819

For a living planet

Briefing:

WWF’s contribution to the Green Paper on Energy Efficiency

December 2005

WWF welcomes the Green Paper on Energy Efficiency and supports the EC in its effort to underline the central role of energy efficiency in fighting climate change. After many years in the shadow, energy efficiency is finally being recognised the role it deserves in fighting climate change, ensuring security of energy supply and enhancing European competitiveness.

Yet, energy efficiency must not become a goal in itself, but it has to be a tool to achieve energy conservation and fight climate change. Improving energy efficiency levels both in the supply and demand side is essential in order to attain an absolute reduction in energy consumption. Through energy conservation climate change and security of energy supply can be respectively alleviated and guaranteed; through energy conservation the negative effects of the volatility of oil and gas prices on the global economy can be softened, mainly thanks to an increase in the use of renewable energy sources.

Therefore is it crucial for the European Commission to acknowledge and emphasise the link between energy efficiency, energy conservation and climate change policy in the forthcoming Action plan on energy efficiency.

To significantly contribute to sustainable development and at the same time to position itself in a global competitive market, the European Union needs to adopt the right objectives and appropriate policies. Becoming the most energy efficient economy in the world would benefit the European Union both from an environmental and economic point of view. The diffusion of existing highly efficient technologies that could rapidly generate substantial CO2 reductions must be supported and properly diffused in Europe and abroad and new technology areas need to be accurately financed and developed. Not only the EU will drastically reduce its CO2 emissions and energy demand, but it will also be able to enter new markets and offer capacity building and technologies when developing countries will start introducing advanced technologies.

As shown in a recent WWF’s study “Target 2020: Policies and Measures to reduce Greenhouse gas emissions in the EU”[1], EU greenhouse gases emissions can be reduced by 33% by 2020 and energy efficiency plays a major role in all sectors and in all Member States. In order to reach this objective a wide-ranging policy package is needed, involving a comprehensive set of sectors and technologies.

Energy efficiency is not a product that can be found on a shelf and easily sold. To obtain substantial results, energy efficiency measures and programmes need to be coordinated and be part of a broad policy framework, providing the structural support for the development and diffusion of energy efficient technologies and products.

If increased energy efficiency levels are not linked to specific policies and measures aiming at steadily reducing absolute energy demand, the European Union will lose a unique opportunity to fight climate change, ensure the security of energy supply and help its economy.

Therefore WWF strongly invites the European Commission to:

  • highlight the link between energy efficiency, energy conservation and EU climate change policy
  • adopt the proposed target of 20% reduction of today’s energy consumption by 2020
  • provide specific financial instruments to favour energy efficiency from research to application (special funding in EU 7th framework research programmes, EU regional funds allocated to energy efficiency projects, specific loans and funding allocated to energy efficiency projects by international financial institutions)
  • recognize the leading role of public authorities in fostering energy efficiency, through green public procurement and education programmes
  • strongly implement and monitor existing legislation (i.e. Eco-design directive, energy end-use efficiency and energy services directive, energy performance in building) and revise old and outdated legislation (i.e. energy labelling directive)
  • adopt new policies in favour of energy efficiency in transport (efficiency in cars, road passenger transport, road freight transport and aviation)
  • introduce new energy taxes and ecological financial reform
  • stop funding fossil fuel and nuclear related projects and support lending for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, create energy efficiency funds and promote innovative financing schemes and contractual tools
  • provide incentives to improve energy efficiency in buildings (especially rented accommodations and buildings not covered by the Energy performance of buildings directive)
  • integrate energy efficiency in the EU relations with third countries (both developing countries and neighbour countries) and include energy and climate policy in the priority agenda.

For more information please contact:

Mariangiola Fabbri

Climate Change and Energy Policy Unit
WWF European Policy Office

Tel. +32 2 7400934


[1]In cooperation with Wuppertal Institute, October 2005, available at: