Energy Policy
Click here to read the most recent WG outcomes and working plan
- 2008: Biomass and Agrofuels
- 2006-2007: 15th EEAC Annual Conference on Energy Efficiency
- 2005: WG Energy Position Paper on post-Kyoto CO2 targets
- 2004: Strategies to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- 2002: Working Group meeting in Kilkenny: future work plan
- 2001: Working Group meeting in Gent: Transition to a sustainable energy future
- 2000: Workshop in Amersfoort (Netherlands): "Reconciling a sustainable energy future with the liberalisation and privatisation of the European energy market"
2008: Biomass and Agrofuels
Chair: Christian Hey, German Advisory Council on the Environment (SRU)
Main outcome 2008
- The WG Energy followed-up the EEAC Statement on Energy Efficiency with dissemination activities. The core topic for 2008 is biomass. EEAC members raised their concern on this topic during a special session 15th EEAC Annual Conference in Évora (Portugal).
- January 2008: the WG Energy held an event with the title "10% Agrofuels, a wise choice?" It was arranged in the frame of the EU's Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW). Environment and Nature Council of Flanders (Minaraad) kindly hosted and sponsored the event. The event was a follow-up of an internal EEAC workshop last October, where many councils already raised concern about discussed targets for agrofuels use. Many EEAC councils had also recently produced statements and reports on this topic. The workshop brought the results and discussions of the councils together in order to inform the Brussels Community on the analysis of experts, scientists and stakeholders in member states.
▲ Top
2006-2007: 15th EEAC Annual Conference on Energy Efficiency
Chair: Christian Hey, German Advisory Council on the Environment (SRU)
Main outcome 2007
- October 2007: The WG Energy played a central role in 2007 for the 15th EEAC Annual Conference on Energy Efficiency in Evora (Portugal) that was hosted by the Portuguese CNADS. The WG Energy prepared the EEAC Statement on Energy Efficiency. Key pillar for a competitive, secure and environmentally friendly European Energy Policy that was launched in this occasion.
Download EEAC Statement on Energy Efficiency
Download Background material to the EEAC Statement
- December 2006: the WG Chair, Christian Hey, together with the Steering Committee chair, Frans Evers, addressed a letter to Angela Merkel in her capacity as head of the EU Presidency during the first semester in 2007. In this letter, both chairs stated that energy efficiency should be considered a top priority for the EU energy policy agenda.
Download the letter on Energy Efficiency to Angela Merkel
▲ Top
2005: WG Energy Position Paper on post-Kyoto CO2 targets
Chair: Christian Hey, German Advisory Council on the Environment (SRU)
Main outcome 2005
- December 2004: Following the WG Energy meeting during the Berlin conference in October 2004, the German SRU presented a paper calling for reinforced EU leadership for post Kyoto targets. Nine EEAC councils recommend that the EU should politically commit to targets of at least 30% reduction of Greenhouse Gases below 1990 levels by 2020 and at least 70% by 2050. In a background study those councils justify their recommendation on the basis of recent climate science evidence and economic assessment. The paper was considered as an input to the forthcoming spring summit of the European Council.
▲ Top
2004: Strategies to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Chair: Horst Steinmüller, Austrian Association for Agricultural and Environmental Research (OeVAF)
Main outcome 2004
- February 2004: the WG Energy met in Graz (Austria) and presented their national strategies to meet Kyoto obligations on emissions. Germany and Sweden stated that they will most likely fulfil the requirements, whereas the Netherlands and Austria believed that according to their national climate strategies, this would only happen if flexible mechanisms are applied. The WG could not reach a consensus on target setting and this has created awareness in the whole EEAC network, where a discussion on this subject is ongoing.
▲ Top
2002: Working Group Meeting in Kilkenny: future work plan
land use for energy production; liberalisation; measures (technical, fiscal, emission trading) to reach the targets of the Kyoto Protocol.
- October 2002: the WG Energy concluded that the following themes of interest for all participating councils are: energy sources and technologies for the future;
These topics were presented to all EEAC councils at the Annual Plenary Session. The OeVAF also presented the results of two studies (Traffic and Kyoto, Energy Liberalisation in Austria) of the Energieinstitut.
2001: Working Group Meeting in Gent: Transition to a sustainable energy future
At their meeting on 15 November, several EEAC councils agreed to re-establish the co-operation as a working group Transition to a sustainable energy future. The Austrian Association for Agriculture, Life Science and Environmental Research (OeVAF) took over the chair.
It was decided to integrate the planned focus of the group Consequences of liberalisation for renewable energy sources in a broader theme "New framework for renewable energy", to cover reaching of Kyoto objectives, eco-tax, EU guideline 2001/77/EG and liberalisation in a comparative view of different national approaches.
2000: Workshop in Amersfoort (Netherlands):
"Reconciling a sustainable energy future with the liberalisation and privatisation of the European energy market"
- October 200: The VROM-Council hosted a workshop as a kick-off for a WG Energy and climate change.
Many councils have an interest in market instruments and technology development given ever decreasing fossil fuel prices.Aim and title of the workshop
Following the recommendations of the Brundtland Commission and UNCED, countries aim for a more sustainable energy economy. Strategies to realise this target often comprise of four elements: (1) more efficient energy consumption, (2) larger shares of energy from renewable sources, (3) clean use of fossil energy sources and (4) use of low-carbon energy sources and technologies. Currently a liberalisation and privatisation of energy production and distribution in the European Union is being implemented. Meanwhile, fossil fuels are expected to remain available at low cost for decades to come. A substantial role for governments might be needed to reconcile these opposing targets under complicating market circumstances. The aim of the workshop is to share information, experiences, ideas and visions between councils in the EU. Councils may use the outcomes of the workshop in advising their governments to make effective decisions.
Workshop Programme
List of Participants
Summary
Full report of the workshop for download1999: Meeting of RCEP and SRU
A bilateral meeting of the Royal Commission for Environmental Pollution (RCEP) and the German Council of Environmental Advisors (SRU) took place in London on 6-7 May to discuss "Aspects of Energy Policy and Environmental Implications".
Summary
Speech of Prof. Ewers (SRU) "Energy Markets and Environmental Policy in Germany"Copyright © 2000-2009 by European Environment and Sustainable Development Advisory Councils, Den Haag. All Rights Reserved.
Last update: 1 December 2009