European Stakeholders Call for Immediate Action in Face of Climate Emergency
CAN Europe merges Europe’s largest networks of cities and regions, influential business groups, European NGO coalitions on climate and energy, and the international student strikes, to call for action on climate change.
BRUSSELS, Belgium, 13 May 2019 – We are facing a climate emergency. We need to take transformative action in the next 10 years to put us in line with the targets of the Paris Agreement, including efforts to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C. We must act immediately to get on track for a healthy and liveable future.
This will not only reduce devastating impacts of climate change, but also bring major economic and social benefits, attract new investments, create new quality jobs and limit health damages.
The European Parliament elections and subsequent changes in the leadership of the European Commission will shape the politics of the European Union for the next five years—a crucial period for climate actions. Emissions need to decline fast, targets need to be strengthened and ambitious action needs to be implemented. The new Parliament and the new Commission must address growing concerns about climate change and make climate action a top priority for Europe.
Therefore, we call upon the new European Parliament, the new European Commission and all EU Member State governments to:
1.Commit to accelerate actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and reach net zero emissions as soon as possible.
We support the actions of United Nations Secretary General António Guterres, who calls upon all leaders to join his UN Climate Summit in September, with intent to reduce global emissions by fifty percent in 2030, achieving net zero by 2050. EU leaders should agree to reach climate neutrality in line with the EU’s fair share effort to achieve net zero global emissions by 2050. Furthermore, EU leaders must agree on a plan to substantially increase its 2030 targets.
2.Plan the end of the use of fossil fuels and provide strong support to energy efficiency, renewable energy and emission cuts outside the energy sector.
Our economic development no longer depends on fossil fuels. In fact, energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies have become cheaper and are more beneficial for all. EU decision makers need to plan to phase out coal, gas and oil use, starting with immediately ending all financial support to fossil fuel infrastructure. At the same time, they need to increase support to research, innovation and deployment of clean alternatives, including prioritising energy efficiency across all sectors and investing in sustainable energy. Ambitious climate and energy targets should be supported by immediate action in all sectors to achieve quick emission cuts.
3.Ensure that the EU increases its support to developing countries to mitigate climate change.
The transition to zero emissions needs to be just, orderly and fair, benefiting everyone and leaving no one behind. This should be done by integrating strong social measures, supportive industrial and business policies and safeguarding workers’ and human rights. Regions that are still highly dependent on fossil fuels, as well as regions highly affected by climate change, such as maritime regions, should receive additional support during this transition. Europe must also substantially increase its financial and other support for climate action and resilience in developing countries, which are being hardest hit by climate change.
4.Increase efforts to roll out the circular economy and increase resource efficiency.
We live in a planet with limited resources. Using resources efficiently is necessary for continued prosperity and well-being. The EU should incorporate circularity and resource efficiency into all future policies to facilitate the efforts to decarbonise all economic and industrial sectors.
5.Recognise biodiversity protection and ecosystem restoration as a crucial component of climate action.
The zero emissions transition cannot happen without substantial investments in the restoration of our ecosystems. This must include efforts to protect and improve the natural capacity of forests and soil to absorb past and present carbon pollution, while promoting sustainable practices, within the EU and beyond our borders.
Time is running out and the urgency to act is crystal clear. Citizens, regional and local authorities, financial institutions, businesses, and other stakeholders are mobilising and acting in every possible way to call for actions against climate change.
"At Joule Assets Europe, we believe that sustainable energy is pivotal to meeting our 2030 climate and energy targets, which is becoming more and more urgent,” says Benedetta Friso Bellemo, Sales Director, Joule Assets Europe. “We fight every day for a greener future by facilitating investment in sustainable energy assets and supporting the growth of small and medium energy service companies. We are proud to be part of the incredible group of stakeholders combating climate change, and to bring our sectoral expertise to a broader Climate Action Call."
A large network of European cities and regions supports this Action. We have obtained signatures of support from C40, Energy Cities, Climate Alliance, most influential business groups (e.g. Corporate Leaders Group, Haga Initiative, Climate Leadership Council), the largest European NGO coalition on climate and energy (Climate Action Network Europe), and members of an international movement of striking school students (Youth for Climate, Fridays for Future).
About Joule Assets Europe
Europe’s 2030 climate targets will be met with an estimated mobilization of €177 billion investment annually in stock building alone. Meanwhile, project uptake has lagged due to high due diligence and customer acquisition costs blocking access to capital and complicating project deployment. Joule Assets Europe provides access to innovative financing solutions and strategic support for Sustainable Energy Assets to unlock market potential. This includes energy efficiency, distributed renewables, and storage. Through its online platform, eQuad, Joule helps ESCOs, engineering firms, and construction companies across Europe access appropriate project investment by providing third-party valuation, performance insurance, project certification, and due diligence that facilitate and expedite funding for Sustainable Energy Assets.
Contact
Benedetta Friso Bellemo
Sales Director
bfrisobellemo@jouleassets.com