The European Investment Bank asked stakeholders to respond to an issues paper with a number of questions. The EIB website stated they sought “to solicit views and input from a wide array of stakeholders that are involved in the energy sector and can bring valuable expertise to the review of the EIB’s energy sector lending […]
Sustainability
Consultation response: preparation of the EU adaptation strategy
This consultation sought to collect opinions from stakeholders and experts in the field of adaptation to climate change with a view to getting additional information for the preparation of the EU Adaptation Strategy. The scope of the consultation ranges from biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystem services to food production and water availability, from the […]
Consultation response: policy options for the Blueprint to safeguard Europe’s waters
The European Commission is in the process of updating it’s water policy with a Blueprint to safeguard Europe’s waters, to be published at the end of 2012. In order for the EU to be able to produce a coherent policy for the Blueprint, it is essential for it to cover all areas that effect water […]
Consultation response: financing energy efficiency in buildings
Dramatically improved energy efficiency in buildings is both achievable and economically desirable. However, low awareness of the environmental impact of buildings; the sector’s complexity, fragmentation, and lack of genuine champions; lack of know-how and experience in green construction; lack of financial instruments to reward energy efficiency; and life styles that are not focussed on energy […]
Consultation response: maritime transport emissions in GHG reduction commitment
Shipping affects European waters. In order to keep the global temperature change below two degrees, all aspects of our carbon emissions must be considered. Therefore it is essential that the maritime sector should contribute to European emission reduction efforts. The efforts will not give a comprehensive view if maritime emissions are not included. In order […]
Consultation response: water efficiency in buildings
Water efficiency needs to be seen as part of the EU’s wider resource efficiency efforts and integrated into that wider agena. For example, the energy sector accounts for some 45 per cent of water use. If the public perception of the intrinsice benefits and successes of, for example, energy efficiency and waste recycling can be […]
Consultation response – vehicular CO2 emissions
Cars are responsible for 14% of the EU’s total CO2 emissions, and they are the single largest source of transport emissions, representing around half of the total. Transport is also critical in the debate on Europe’s energy dependence, as it is responsible for about two-thirds of our oil use. Thus, it is important to tell […]
Briefing paper: poverty, inequality and climate change
This briefing paper was created to create a discussion on the need for policy coherence between climate change, energy, external action (including conflict prevention), trade, economic policy, and international development as these all relate directly to a sustainable future for those within Europe and those in other areas. The paper considers the way in which […]
Briefing paper: energy efficiency and savings
The first briefing paper in the Sustainable Energy Security series. It considers the under-utilisation of Europe’s energy savings potential, and argues that the cheapest, fastest and most reliable way to de-carbonise our society is to invest in energy savings and behavioural change. Energy Efficiency and Savings: the under-utilisation of Europe’s energy savings potential Are we […]
Consultation response: smart cities and communities initiative
In its Energy 2020 strategy, the European Commission identified the Smart Cities and Communities initiative as a project of European dimension for energy efficiency and for accelerating the large scale deployment of innovative, low-carbon technologies. QCEA believes that demand reduction via behavioural change is more crucial than technological innovation. SMART cities won’t work without efforts […]