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New Energy World
New Energy World embraces the whole energy industry as it connects and converges to address the decarbonisation challenge. It covers progress being made across the industry, from the dynamics under way to reduce emissions in oil and gas, through improvements to the efficiency of energy conversion and use, to cutting-edge initiatives in renewable and low carbon technologies.
Europe's climate plans need a dose of ambition
27/9/2023
8 min read
Feature
There are both bleak and optimistic aspects to European countries’ efforts to meet climate targets. However, it could be that the growth of renewables (and decline of coal) is being led more by economics than environmental benefits, writes Alexandru Mustață from the Beyond Fossil Fuels campaign group.
Heatwaves, wildfires and floods, all fuelled by worsening climate change, have battered Europe from every side this summer. This extreme weather is a taste of what awaits us unless we hasten the transition away from destructive fossil fuels.
To deal with this clear and present danger, European governments have a duty to ensure their plans, officially known as national energy and climate plans (NECPs), are up to the job and clearly articulate how each country will cut carbon emissions, boost renewable energy and reduce energy use to meet the 1.5°C limit under the Paris climate agreement.
It’s been almost a decade since governments around the world promised to take the necessary action to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C, a commitment that helped boost the European Union’s (EU) 2030 climate emissions reduction target from a minimum 40% to at least 55%.