Deutschland setzt wie kein anderes Land auf erneuerbare Energien. Trotz Energiewende kann Deutschland aber vorerst nicht auf fossile Brennstoffe verzichten.
At EU level, new proposed legislation for a clean-energy policy is being adopted. New policies are currently being discussed regarding the increased reduction of CO2 emissions, as well as EU-wide energy consumption targets for the year 2030 and national energy efficiency targets and measures to be derived from them. But what happens when the proposed objectives contradict and undermine each other?
Increasingly stringent energy consumption targets for the year 2030 flanked by national energy efficiency targets are about to being agreed at the EU level. A study by the German Economic Institute (IW) shows that these targets when applied to ETS-sectors, conflict with the overall aim of a cost-efficient decarbonization.
Today, the EU Commission presented new guidelines and proposals for the European energy policy. With regard to the energy market design, the proposed package offers some welcome visions. They have the potential to indeed overcome the fragmented and somewhat inefficient state of national energy policies, including in Germany.
The election of Donald Trump as the next US president puts the international progress on global climate protection in danger. Trump already announced his plans to withdraw the US’ support and acceptance of the Paris Agreement. Thus, one of the largest emitters of CO2 would no longer be part of the fight against climate change. For companies producing in Europe, with its climate protection requirements this would lead to competitive disadvantages.
Interview with Hubertus Bardt, Head of the Research Division at the Cologne Institute for Economic Research
Managing Director, Head of the Research
Tel+49 221 4981-750
Mailbardt@iwkoeln.de
@H_Bardt
Economist
Tel+49 221 4981-402
Mailfischer@iwkoeln.de
Head of the Research Unit Environment, Energy, Infrastructure
Tel+49 221 4981-791
Mailthilo.schaefer@iwkoeln.de
