Quote of the week

Written Ministerial Statement by Secretary of State for Energy Ed Davey after EU Energy Council meeting, March 4^th:

The Council then debated the 2030 climate and energy framework. . . . The Commissioner argued that the 40% greenhouse gas target was very ambitious. The majority of Member States endorsed a greenhouse gas target of 40%. I called for a 50% target in the event of an ambitious international agreement.

A number of Member States called for more ambitious binding EU targets for renewable energy (of 30-40%) and binding energy efficiency targets. Others called for a technology neutral approach with no EU and national-level targets for renewables and energy efficiency. I and others supported an EU renewables target of 27%, on the condition that they would not become binding national targets.

It is curious that Mr Davey has nothing to say about an energy efficiency target, binding or not . . .  He certainly didn’t support one.  While Europe needs a champion for energy efficiency, we certainly know it won’t be him.