In an open letter to European Environment and Climate Ministers, seven energy companies – including Ørsted, EDP, Enel, Iberdrola, SSE, Statkraft and Verbund – expressed support for a carbon-neutral EU by 2050
The companies also asked the EU to increase the 2030 target for greenhouse gas reduction to at least 55%.
“It is crucial that the EU speeds up the implementation of green energy solutions now to achieve carbon neutrality in 2050,” the companies said. “We call on the EU to increase its greenhouse gas reduction target for 2030 from 40% to at least 55% compared to 1990 levels.”
“Establishing these objectives will help to deliver the ambitions of the Paris Agreement and demonstrate the leadership of the EU in tackling climate change, encouraging other countries to follow,” the signatories to the letter said.
“While a challenge, the transition to a climate neutral economy provides an opportunity to increase economic growth, promote employment and improve quality of life and public health. Today, there are already clear signals that the EU is ready to commit to these targets, such as increased public support, strong industrial engagement and innovative technology development.
“The technologies to drive significant emissions reduction are already at our disposal, at increasingly competitive prices and able to be deployed at scale. An energy system based on renewables is the most efficient and competitive alternative to achieve decarbonisation across the economy.
“Renewable energy technologies have seen dramatic cost reductions and are now cost-competitive with conventional energy sources, while electric vehicles, heat pumps and other electric end-use technologies are also reaching parity with their alternatives.
“Nonetheless, a varied suite of policies needs to be put in place at EU, national and local levels to ensure that the lowest cost pathway is followed,” the companies said.
“The European Green Deal is expected to drive European industrial leadership in the global low carbon economy, but there is also a need to provide clear price signals for investment in clean technologies.
“A strong carbon price and a level playing field among energy carriers are essential to these efforts. The EU must rethink its energy taxation, tighten the EU ETS cap, and update the EU ETS Market Stability Reserve, while performing an efficient revenue recycling to ensure positive macroeconomic effects and a just transition. In addition, the current permitting processes for investments need to be simplified to enable the required exponential growth.
“We firmly believe that greenhouse gas reduction of at least 55% by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050 at the latest can be achieved. We stand ready to contribute by investing in carbon-neutral infrastructure and promoting the adoption of innovative, carbon-neutral and competitive technologies, which can then be deployed by European companies internationally.”
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