Major European lobby groups are calling on the EU Commission to show more ambition on climate and energy policies.
The European Round Table for Industry (ERT), comprising the bosses of 55 of the bloc’s leading industrial companies, and the Coalition for Higher Ambition (CHA), a group of business, investor, trade union and NGO representatives, have both stated that the bloc must do more to tackle the climate emergency.
ERT, which released a new study entitled ‘Turning Global Challenges into Opportunities – A Chance for Europe to Lead’, said new policies are needed to ensure the sufficient and cost-competitive supply of clean energy for EU industry.
“We must ensure that the renewable energy capacity and systems available can meet projected demand,” the report said.
“This process implies radical system changes, not only for energy but also for raw materials.
“Europe has the necessary energy and financial resources, but only if policy frameworks incentivise investment.”
The reported added: “We need to secure supply. We also need to ensure a better coordination and harmonisation of EU and national energy policies. This means renewable power should be integrated faster into the networks – which requires market integration and a framework for investment.”
CHA meanwhile urged the Commission to come forward with a proposal to increase the EU’s climate target to reduce GHG emission reductions by at least 55% by 2030 with 1990 levels within the first 100 days of their mandate.
It is the first time that this broad group of stakeholders have taken a joint position on the EU’s 2030 target and its revision timeline.
Wendel Trio, director of member group Climate Action Network Europe, said: “We expect the European Commission to understand the importance of the COP 26 deadline to substantially increase the EU’s climate pledge.
“Missing the Paris Agreement deadline would undermine what the EU has done for the Paris Agreement until now. It will also be a big failure to address the rising call from European businesses, investors and cities to tackle the climate emergency.”
The statements come ahead of the European Commission’s announcement on the European Green Deal.
New Commission president, Ursula Von der Leyen, is expected to unveil the deal on 11 December.