Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
EU Policies and Regulation on CO 2 ,
Renewables and Energy Efciency:
A Critical Assessment of Recent
Experiences
Gonzalo S
á
enz de Miera and Miguel
Á
ngel Mu
ñ
oz Rodr
í
guez
Abstract For over 20 years, the EU has taken on a clear role of international
leadership in energy and environmental policy, with a strong commitment to
bringing down CO 2 emissions, promoting renewable energies and enhancing
energy ef
ciency. Regulatory experience has been very varied, with several dif-
ferent kinds of regulatory,
scal and command-and-control instruments, etc. being
implemented. The analysis conducted in this chapter shows that there have been
but it can be concluded that, in general, priority has been
given to meeting targets rather than to economic ef
lights and shadows
ciency considerations. Two
main tools have been used to bring down CO 2 emissions at EU level: the EU ETS
and taxation. On the
rst issue, our main conclusion is that despite the fact that CO 2
goals have been achieved, the role of CO 2 prices as a low-carbon investment driver
has been of relatively little importance. In relation to the second issue, the need to
analyse energy and environmental taxation from a broad conceptual perspective,
including the extraordinary costs derived from energy, environmental and social
policy decisions needs to be highlighted. In the Spanish context, an environmental
tax reform needs to be undertaken to address the challenges faced by the energy
model: strong incentives are required in favour of technologies which are more
ef
cient and which have lower environmental impacts. In relation to renewables,
experience shows good and bad points in each of the supporting frameworks and
the general conclusion is that these frameworks should also take into account the
characteristics of each technology (particularly its competitiveness). Energy ef
-
ciency should be one of the cornerstones for attaining EU energy and environmental
goals. Price instruments, standards and information instruments are very useful in
overcoming the
energy ef
ciency gap
. In this regard, the Directive on Energy
Ef
ciency will establish the policy framework for the medium/long term.
Search WWH ::




Custom Search