Rede zur Klima-und Europapolitik in Bologna

Dear participants,
Dear speakers,

At the moment, with the ongoing negotiations on the EU 2030 Package on climate and energy, we are defining our climate and energy policy for the next 20 years. As a consequence the decisions taken over this package will shape our energetic transition and cause changes in our daily habits.
In addition, as the current international climate governance laid down by the Kyoto Protocol will end soon, the objectives of this new 2030 package will be the contribution of the EU to the ongoing negotiations for a climate agreement to be signed next year in Paris. Given the urgency of the climate situation worldwide, an ambitious agreement is essential and the position of the EU will influence the position of others.
The 2030 Framework is therefore capital for the EU, and one of our priorities this year.
Given the capacity of this framework to re-shape our economy and change our society, the European Commission started by launching a public consultation on what should be the 2030 Framework. Member states, regions, energy and environmental agencies, energy industry, NGOs, individuals, EU institutions participated to the consultation.
One of the key points was to base the 2030 Framework on the lessons learnt from the implementation of the previous package for 2020.
Another key point was to have objectives high enough to ensure a meaningful energetic transition and the emergence of a resource-efficient economy.
The Committee of the Regions decided to deliver its recommendations via an official Opinion. We appointed a rapporteur, our member Mrs Sirpa Hertell, who unfortunately is sick today. Mrs Hertell, Vice chair of the second largest city in Finland, debated with all local and regional stakeholders and organisations, as well as with the members of the Committee of the Regions. She presented very strong recommendations.
For 2030, Mrs Hertell confirmed that we had to shift our habits and step up our efforts. In view of the current science as delivered by the intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC), it was recommended to aim for a 50 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared with pre-industrial levels. (For your information, the objective for 2020 is 20 per cent.)
Such an ambitious objective will lead to a new economic model, a green economy. To support this transition towards the right direction, other objectives are necessary. Coherent objectives on renewable energy as well as on energy efficiency will ensure this transition towards a sustainable and thriving economy.
This Opinion was adopted with a large majority by the 424 representatives of the Committee of the Regions. It fed into the EU inter-institutional dialogue with a clear voice from the local and regional authorities. The European Parliament did support our vision, albeit with a lower objective, and insisted on the leverage of the local authorities and the potential of decentralised energy to further mitigate climate change effects.
After much anticipation, the European Commission published its 2030 Framework on climate and energy proposal. 3 objectives were laid down as well as a proposal for an EU-wide governance on energy. The proposal was disappointing to the Committee of the Regions.
First of all it is proposing a 30 per target of greenhouse gas reduction. Such a target is much too low to lead to a new green paradigm. A 50 per cent objective is needed to deal with the climate threat as well as to maximise opportunities green jobs and investment.
Secondly, supporting objectives on renewables and energy efficiency are also too low and will not drive enough investment as is needed.
Moreover these two last objectives are not binding at Member state level. This means that there is not enough incentive for national authorities to comply with them.
In a time where local and regional authorities as well as companies need certainties to design and implement sustainable projects, these objectives do not help to foster action towards a green economy.
The Committee of the Regions reacted through a second Opinion by rapporteur Annabelle Jaeger. This Opinion was adopted almost at unanimity with three votes against and one abstention.
Through this position, the EU Committee of the Regions is urging the EU to opt for a winning trio of binding and ambitious targets:
A 50 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, a 40 per cent share of renewable energies and a 40 per increase in energy efficiency.
This signal is meant to be clear. Cities and regions of Europe are implementing energy and climate policies, they are often the drivers for more ambition and decentralised clean energy. They have a very important role in the road to a sustainable and thriving economy. They mobilise all local communities to set up decentralised project for cheaper and clean energy.
Through this Opinion, representatives of local and regional authorities from all over the EU insisted that they have a crucial responsibility in translating EU and national objectives into concrete results. They are ready to take this responsibility but they need support such as legal certainty, private and public investment, elimination of administrative red tape and easy access to EU and international climate funding for instance.
Regions and cities are therefore calling the EU and Member states to help them by agreeing on these ambitious targets which will clearly direct investments towards greener projects.
The proposal of the European Commission is now being discussed by Member states within the Council. They will take a decision during the European Council meeting in a few days, on 23-24 October. Our position is that in the current political and economic context, states should not quote the Russian gas crisis as a reason to water down energy and climate ambition. On the contrary, the gas crisis showed us that we need more energy independence and cheaper energy. Decentralised energy in the EU does this and we are counting on the Council to recognise this solution and our essential role in a new EU wide energy governance.
I am also counting on you to remind your government of this. Thank you.

Heinz Lehmann, Mitglied im Ausschuss der Regionen