Views: 9
As is known, extensive use of fossil fuels is dangerous for the global climate and individual health; it also puts a strain on many regional economies, industries and businesses. Hence, there are many good reasons to speed up the energy transition including more active renewable policies both world-wide and in regional/national domain.
Background
In March 2023, the EU together with the International Energy Agency launched a global initiative to push the clean energy transition forward; then in Dubai at COP 28 in 2023, the EU committed to tripling renewable energy capacity and to doubling energy efficiency by 2030.
Renewable energy is generally homegrown: thus, it facilitates energy efficiency and independence, creates jobs and supports business; besides, it is a clean energy source and is cheaper than the fossil fuel alternatives.
The renewable targets agreed in Dubai would cut global greenhouse gas emissions by 10 billion tones of CO2 by the end of the decade (the amount is more than the EU-27 total emissions during three years).
Perspective plan
There are three areas where both the global community and regional/national authorities can achieve more together, acknowledged the European Commissioner President at the G-20 summit in Rio de Janeiro on 19 November 2024.
Source and references to: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_24_5966
First, tangible projects on green transition are needed in every continent and in every economy: e.g. Africa is home to 60 percent of the best solar resources globally; but at the same time, 600 million people lack electricity. In order to bridge the gap, the EU together with South Africa and the Global Citizen, initiative launched the campaign to scale up renewables in Africa. Hence, the EU relies heavily during 2025 on South Africa’s G20 Presidency and Brazil’s COP30 Presidency for investment in renewables around the world.
Secondly, three key enablers can be used: 1. the energy grids: according to the IEA, about 25 million kilometers of new and improved grid lines shall be made to reach the global targets.
2. Stable and ethically sustainable supply of minerals: it is known that the global demand for minerals like lithium, cobalt and other rare earth’s elements will triple by 2030. Therefore, mining and processing these resources should be sustainable and it should benefit local communities; besides, an added value should not be forgotten, so that production countries and their people fully benefit from the riches in their land. To achieve the goal, the UN Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals, co-chaired by South-Africa and the EU was crated.
3. The need for investments: e.g. the EU-27 in the next five years alone will invest about €4 billion in renewable energy and hydrogen in developing economies, as part of the EU Global Gateway initiative. Besides, public funds and private investment shall go hand in hand to facilitate green transition.
Thirdly, to reach the global renewable targets a much closer international cooperation is needed: hence, the world needs a continuous dialogue to ensure the implementation of these goals to bring together governments, international organisations and financial institutions. The new Global Energy Transition Forum (in cooperation with the United Kingdom, the EU and others) is a good venue to focus more on finance and more active implementation; this forum will meet regularly to keep momentum and ensure feasible outcomes. And, the COP30 in 2025 to take place in Brazil should lead to real progress under the leadership of President Lula.
European transport network: sustainable and resilient
In the beginning of 2024, the Commission selected 134 projects from a total of 408 applications submitted under this EU initiative supported by the EU funding (in the form of grants) to co-finance total project costs.
Under the CEF Transport program for 2021-2027, €25.8 billion are available for grants to co-fund TEN-T projects in the EU member states. Since 2014, CEF has supported over 1,500 projects with €37.5 billion in the transport sector.
Starting from July 2024 an updated TEN-T Regulation is enhancing efforts to create a sustainable and resilient transport network within the EU. It encourages sustainable transport modes, digitalization, and multi-modality, while addressing climate challenges and military mobility.
Mote in: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_24_3821
Italian example
The Italian government has recently submitted the final version of its National Energy and Climate Plan, NECP which outlines Italian measures to achieve its national climate targets by 2030 in line with the EU-wide objectives. Hence, Italy has put forward targets, strategies and measures also for the decarbonisation of transport, which remains among the hardest to decarbonise. While Italy’s greenhouse gas emissions due to energy consumption have decreased by 21 per cent from 1990 to 2022, those related to transport have increased by 8 per cent in the same period. Moreover, transport sector accounted for 27 per cent of national emissions in 2022, with road transport alone accounting for 92 per cent of those emissions.
The main targets and political implications of Italy’s NECP related to both private cars and heavy-duty road transport (buses and trucks) are oriented towards identifying potential gaps and opportunities in reaching Italy’s climate targets.
Besides, the Italian NECP has set a 34.2 per cent share of renewables in the transport sector’s gross final energy consumption by 2030. However, to reach the targets, the government will need to adopt some stable and clear policies (as well as fiscal and economic strategies) to facilitate the transition, as effective and timely decarbonisation of transport requires a combination of actions at different levels and across different economy’s sectors.
Source and citation from: https://www.iai.it/en/pubblicazioni/italys-national-energy-and-climate-plan-and-road-transport-appraisal