EU nations consider lowering energy savings targets - draft

(Reuters, 4 Apr 2017) EU nations are considering lowering targets on energy savings after 2021, a draft document seen by Reuters shows, in what climate campaigners say would be blow to the European Union's goals to curb the worst effects of global warming.

The text drafted by the Maltese presidency of the European Council proposes new annual energy savings targets of 1.4 percent through 2030, down from 1.5 percent proposed by the European Commission, the EU executive.

A reference to keeping the 1.5 percent target for 10 years beyond 2030 was also scrapped from the compromise text, which will be discussed by European diplomats later this week.

The change was requested by a number of EU nations afraid they would not meet the more ambitious targets, a spokesman for the Maltese presidency told Reuters, adding the target is still open for discussion.

The European Union aims to achieve these targets by measures such as improving insulation and the energy consumption of buildings, more efficient consumer goods and introducing advanced electricity meters.

External link

Reuters, 4 Apr 2017: EU nations consider lowering energy savings targets - draft