The EU Legal Frameworks - The Sustainability of Renewable Energy in Europe - page 21

In recent years, most developed countries have experienced a recession from
which they are recovering slowly. The USA, Canada, and Japan have shown a GDP
growth of 2 %, and in many EU countries, economic growth has been even smaller.
Analyzing in particular the EU, it has remained in recession in 2012 with a GDP
which declined by 0.3 % compared to 2011 levels (in public-private partnership
(PPP) units, IMF 2013 ). They have been decreased, CO 2 emissions, by 2.3 % in
2012 compared to 2011 levels. The main cause of the decline is primarily emis-
sions reduction in the primary energy consumption of oil and gas by, respectively,
4 and 2 %. These reductions are attributable to the reduction of 1 % in electricity
production and emissions reduction in residential and service sectors. Emissions are
decreased as well in the transport sector due to a reduction of air and road freights.
There has been emissions reduction for 2 % in the energy manufacturing industries
which both participate in the EU ETS.
While the total CO 2 emissions from power generation in the EU27 decreased by
2.3 % in 2012, the situation is very different among member states concerning the
use of coal, since it has became attractive again for electricity production in EU's
energy portfolio.
Between 2011 and 2012, there has been an increase of coal consumption in the
UK (+ 24 %), Spain (+ 24 %), Germany ( 4 %), and France (+ 20 %), and on the other
hand, a decrease in Poland (− 4 %) and the Czech Republic (− 8 %). Most of the coal
consumption in these countries is allocated to power generation. In recent years,
Germany has shifted production from nuclear power to RES, but it continues to
subsidize coal mining until 2018. New coal-fired plants also become operational in
Italy (1980-MW plant operating since 2008) and Bulgaria (675-MW plant operating
since 2008).
According to the WEO-2014 New Policy Scenario, CO 2 emissions per capita
decline slightly on a global basis, and in the EU, emissions should decline by 1.4 %
in 2040 (Table 1.4 ).

1.5 Conclusions

From the analysis carried out so far on energy and environmental policies of the EU
in the fight against climate change, we offer important conclusions. To achieve the
goal of reducing EU GHG emissions by 80 % by 2050, the road map indicates that
a smooth transition in terms of cost requires a reduction in domestic emissions by
40 % in 2030 and 80 % in 2050 compared to 1990 levels. The analysis reveals that
existing policies will allow the EU to achieve a 20 % reduction in domestic GHG
emissions and the share of EU energy consumption produced from RES to 20 % by
2020.
If the energy efficiency plan would be fully and effectively implemented, thus
achieving the goal of a 20 % increase in energy efficiency, the EU would be able to
exceed its target of 20 % reduction by 2020.