Today, EU representatives reached a political agreement aimed at strengthening the Union’s ambitious renewable energy targets. In particular, it aims to expand the use of renewable energy sources by 2030. This is an important measure for successful combating climate change and reducing Russia’s dependence on fossil fuels.
On Twitter, MP Marcus Pipper said EU countries and the European Parliament have agreed on a target of 42.5% of EU energy coming from renewable sources by 2030. These sources include wind and solar energy, aimed at reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
The agreement reached will have to go through the approval procedure by the European Parliament and the EU Member States before it is implemented. Usually, these votes are formal and ratify the agreement without amendments. The agreement will replace the current EU target for the share of renewable energy, which was set at 32% by 2030.
By 2021, the EU was committed to its target of 22% of its energy from renewable sources. However, EU countries vary significantly in their use of renewable energy, with Sweden taking the first place, receiving 63% of its energy from renewables, while other countries such as Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands and Ireland use less than 13% of the energy from renovable sources.
In order for the EU to its climate change targets, a rapid transition to renewable energy is necessary, as legally binding targets include reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the EU has decided to reduce its dependence on Russian fossil fuels by 2027. To this, it plans massive investments in wind and solar parks, promoting local low-carbon energy production. This shift to renewable energy is crucial for the EU to its climate change targets.
