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Roadmap for moving to a competitive low carbon economy in 2050

2011/2095(INI)

The Council discussed key questions concerning the roadmap for moving to a competitive low carbon economy in 2050, presented by the Commission in March. The presidency noted acceptance of draft conclusions by 26 Member States and decided to issue presidency conclusions on the roadmap which is a crucial element of the EU2020 ‘Resource-efficient Europe’ flagship initiative.

The Council reaffirms the EU objective to reduce emissions by 80-95% by 2050 compared to 1990 levels. It recalls the EU’s independent commitment to achieve a 20% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 compared to 1990 as well as the EU's conditional offer to move to a 30% reduction by 2020 compared to 1990, as part of a global and comprehensive agreement for the period beyond 2012 and provided that i) other developed countries commit themselves to comparable emission reductions and that ii) more advanced developing countries contribute adequately according to their responsibilities and respective capabilities.

The Council’s conclusions stress the following key points:

  • the proposed milestones for EU domestic emission reductions presented in the 2050 Low-carbon economy roadmap of 40% by 2030, 60% by 2040 and 80% by 2050 compared to the 1990 level as the basis for further work on the action needed to make the transition in a gradual, cost-effective way. The Council also notes the Commission’s finding that the 25% domestic reduction by 2020 would be in line with the pathway, consistent with the long-term climate objective;
  • the Commission is invited to present timely options for delivering the reductions for the period to 2030 ; in this context, the Council stresses the need for a balanced approach that respects the principles of “polluter pays”, cost-effectiveness, fairness and solidarity in the distribution of additional efforts and benefits between Member States;
  • it is important that Member States prepare low-carbon and cost-efficient development strategies over the long-term;
  • there is an urgent need to give clear signals for businesses, investors and other stakeholders, underlining that delays in the adoption of adequate measures. can generate additional costs. The Council underlines the economic and employment opportunities and challenges for the EU of increased investment in safe and sustainable low-carbon technologies. The Commission is invited to consider how public and private resources and investments could be stepped up and used more efficiently within the EU to facilitate a cost-effective transition to a low-carbon economy;
  • in order to deliver the domestic reductions necessary for the transition to a competitive low-carbon economy by 2050, all sectors of the economy will need to contribute: there is, therefore, the need to integrate climate change objectives and milestones into all relevant sectoral policy areas, such as energy, transport, industry, and buildings, and specifically to mainstream mitigation and adaptation strategies into the future Common Agriculture Policy and Cohesion Policy;
  • there is the need for consistency between the 2050 Low-carbon economy roadmap and all other relevant components of the Resource-efficient Europe flagship initiative, such as the Commission's recently published White Paper on Transport and Energy Efficiency Plan, as well as the forthcoming Energy Roadmap;
  • the Commission is invited, based on analyses of sectoral constraints and potentials, to further develop sectoral roadmaps and policy initiatives in order to elaborate the cost-efficient reduction pathway to a competitive low carbon economy in 2050 ;
  • the crucial role of R&D and demonstration of safe and sustainable low-carbon technologies is stressed. The Council calls for the implementation of the Strategic Energy Technology Plan as one of the key tools to manage the transition towards a low-carbon economy;
  • the Commission is invited to further consider the possible practical modalities that may be needed to ensure that the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) continues to reward energy efficiency and low-carbon investments in all relevant sectors of the economy while ensuring the consistency of emission reduction efforts between the EU ETS and non-ETS sectors, with due attention to be paid to the risk of carbon leakage.

The Council invites the Commission to inform the Council on a timetable for future work as soon as possible and decides to revert to these issues as soon as possible and no later than March 2012 in the light of existing and forthcoming analyses and initiatives.