European power sector says “YES” to an ambitious global agreement at COP21
Joint communiqué to the Executive Secretary, Mrs Figueres, and to the 196 parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change; copied to Mr Maroš Šefčovič, Vice President for the Energy Union, European Commission and Mr Arias Canete, Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, European Commission
All the nations of the world gathering in Paris from 30 November to 11 December 2015 for the 21st yearly session of the Conference of the Parties to the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the 11th session of the Meeting of the Parties to the 1997 Kyoto Protocol are expected to reach an agreement for limiting global warming. Such universal agreement is a must. Eleven associations active in the European energy sector urge the 196 parties to the Convention to reach an ambitious agreement at the end of this 21st session.
The European power system is in the midst of transformative change. This change is driven by a shared climate agenda. To meet the climate agenda, the following ingredients are essential: higher energy efficiency; generation largely and increasingly based on renewable energy sources; electrification of transport, heating and cooling; an efficiently used and where necessary expanded high voltage grid respectful of nature conservation objectives; smarter transmission and distribution grids; smart meters; empowered consumers via demand side response; electricity storage; and a fit for purpose interface between the transmission and distribution levels of the electricity system. All these components are key to fighting global warming and creating a sustainable power system for the 21st century.
The signatories of this joint communiqué actively and concretely support the energy transition. Today they urge the 196 parties to the COP21/CM11 as well as the European Union to agree on a strong climate agenda. This is the very condition for a future-proof and ambitious regulatory framework able to drive the necessary public and private investment in the power sector to effectively and rapidly fight climate change.
We must act now!
