DIG DEEPER at Norwegian SciTech News:
Energy crisis can help boost green energy investments in Europe
Can Europe use the energy crisis to help accelerate its efforts to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050? The EU’s Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change says yes.
The energy crisis that has gripped Europe is far from over. That makes it more important than ever to invest in renewables and energy efficiency, the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change says.
The board, which is composed of 15 members from across the EU, released an 8-point list of recommendations for EU Member States on Tuesday.
“The energy crisis – and the policy responses to mitigate its impacts – pose both an opportunity and a risk for the EU’s transition towards climate neutrality. On one hand, it provides a strong rationale to accelerate energy savings and the deployment of domestic, clean energy sources in order to reduce our dependence on fossil fuel imports,” the board wrote. “On the other hand, there is also a risk that efforts to secure sufficient energy supply or soften energy prices through subsidies will delay the transition or even lead to long-term emission lock-ins.”
“With the price peaks and winter heating season almost behind is, the time is now to shift from crisis-management to a more structural approach to tackle the crisis,” the board says.
Edgar Hertwich, International Chair in NTNU’s Industrial Ecology Programme and member of the board, says it’s particularly important to avoid investing heavily in fossil fuel related infrastructure, such as LNG (liquified natural gas) terminals.
DIG DEEPER at Norwegian SciTech News:
Energy crisis can help boost green energy investments in Europe