Environmental pollution and the emission of CO2 due to the use of fossil fuels constitute a threat to health, the environment and sustainable economic growth. The most serious danger comes from accelerating climate change, the effects of which are already being seen around the world in the form of rising temperatures, melting ice caps and volatile weather patterns.
The latest report from the International Panel on Climate Change confirms that cost-effective renewable energy technologies are now available to reduce climate damaging emissions. Implementing these solutions will pave the way to a new era of energy, one that will bring economic growth, new jobs, technological innovation and, most importantly, environmental protection (Greenpeace).
Clean Energy
Renewable energies are today providing a central role. The European Environment Agency assessment on greenhouse gas emission trends in Europe states that “the promotion of renewable energy has the greatest impact on emissions in most EU Member States for both implemented and planned policies”.
According to EEA analyses, “the largest emissions savings for the EU are projected to be from renewable energy policies”.
Co2 Savings
With the projected capacity of Energia Verde in Romania it is possible to avoid the emission of large amounts of polluting substances into the atmosphere:
- one million tonnes of Carbon Dioxide per year
- 3.500 tonnes of Sulphur Dioxide per year
- 1.200 tonnes of Nitric Oxides per year
- 150 tonnes of dust
with a considerable saving of fossil fuel, which is estimated at:
over 300.000 tonnes of petroleum per year
Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty on climate change, assigning mandatory emission limitations for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to the signatory nations.
Its objective is the stabilisation of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.
Countries that ratify this protocol commit to reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide and five other greenhouse gases, or engage in emissions trading if they maintain or increase emissions of these gases.
Implementation of the Kyoto Protocol is the driving policy framework for the EU. CO2 is by far the most important greenhouse gas in the EU, accounting for 82% of total greenhouse gas emissions. Of that, electricity and heat production comprises the largest source. Since 1990, C02 emissions in the EU have increased by 3.4% and from 2002-2003 by 1.8. This was mainly due to an increase in power production using coal.
European Energy Strategy
We live in an era of energy uncertainty. The days of cheap and abundantly available energy are over.
Intensified competition for energy is pushing up prices and leading to periodic crises. Europe’s dependency on imported fossil fuel has become a threat to its own economic stability. Today, it already imports 50% of its energy needs and this share is likely to increase further unless Europe changes direction. Therefore it is vitally important that we develop internal renewable energy resources to the maximum extent possible.
Europe is the world leader in renewable energy and has both a competitive and comparative advantage in the most promising renewable technologies. On 9 March 2007, the EU Heads of State have decided to adopt a binding 20% target for renewable energies by 2020.