Brussels, October 27 (BNA) A new report from the European Commission showed that renewable energy sources have overtaken fossil fuels as the primary source of energy in the European Union for the first time.
The 2021 State of the Union reports show that renewables generated 38% of the EU’s electricity, compared to 37% for fossil fuels.
The report comes as European Union member states struggle to protect vulnerable citizens and businesses from rising energy prices, according to German news agency dpa.
A meeting in Luxembourg on Tuesday failed to reach agreement on long-term measures to tackle rising electricity and gas prices, despite Spain, Greece and France pushing for market reforms.
The European Commission said higher energy prices are temporary – an analysis shared by Germany and other member states resisting market intervention – but these rising costs highlight the EU’s independence on energy imports, which is at its highest levels in 30 years.
Announcing the report, the European Commission said that while progress on a number of climate trends is encouraging: “Greater efforts will be needed to reach the 2030 target of reducing net emissions by at least 55 per cent and achieving climate neutrality by 2050”.
In addition to reporting a decrease in fossil fuel subsidies, and an increase in renewable energy subsidies, the report found that greenhouse gas emissions by the 27 EU member states in 2020 fell by nearly 10% compared to 2019, reflecting the impact of COVID-19. – 19 epidemic.
Overall emissions are down 31 percent in 2020 compared to 1990, with the European Commission announcing that further long-term study of post-Covid trends will continue into the next year.
Despite progress in emissions levels, primary energy consumption remains above targets set to achieve the 2020 and 2030 EU net emissions targets.
Last year, primary energy consumption decreased by 1.9 percent and final energy consumption by 0.6 percent.
The Commission said further efforts at the level of member states and the European Union are necessary to reduce energy consumption further.
HF