Euro Green Deal “a golden opportunity” for cooling

BELGIUM: EPEE has welcomed the European Green Deal, announced today by the European Commission, as an opportunity to promote sustainable cooling as an enabler to carbon neutrality.

The European Commission describes the Green Deal as “a new growth strategy” to transform the EU into “a fair and prosperous society, with a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy” where there are no net emissions of greenhouse gases in 2050. It also intends to “decouple” economic growth from resource use.

EPEE (The European Partnership for Energy and the Environment) said that sustainable cooling provided a major opportunity to enable carbon neutrality in Europe by combining energy efficiency and a shift to renewable energies. 

Andrea Voigt, EPEE director general, said: “The demand for cooling will grow significantly over the coming decades, and we take our responsibility very seriously. Cooling is indispensable for our society, and we have the solutions to contribute effectively to reach carbon neutrality and help the EU achieve its climate and energy goals.

“Cooling is part of the solution, and its potential needs to be better recognised. We will therefore work closely with the Commission to foster the sustainable cooling approach within the upcoming actions undertaken as part of the EGD.”

The European Commission, through its European Green Deal, seeks to rethink policies for clean energy supply. The Commission says it will propose the first European Climate Law by March 2020. This will enshrine the 2050 climate neutrality objective in legislation. 

By summer 2020, the Commission also promises to present an impact assessed plan to increase the EU’s greenhouse gas emission reductions target for 2030 to at least 50% and towards 55% compared with 1990 levels in a responsible way. To deliver these additional greenhouse gas emissions reductions, the Commission says it will review and revise where necessary, all relevant climate-related policy instruments by June 2021.

EPEE has proposed a five-step approach to sustainable cooling in a recently published White Paper. The proposals, it argues, would increase the energy efficiency of cooling systems, and enable a shift towards renewable energy sources by integrating the cooling sector into the power generation system.

“Coordinated actions are urgently needed to address barriers to the uptake of sustainable cooling. Cooling needs to be addressed with an integrated approach, which is the heart of the EGD,” said Andrea Voigt. “In that respect, the Green Deal is a golden opportunity to leverage the potential of sustainable cooling and deliver on its promise.”

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EPEE offers 5 steps to sustainable cooling – 5 November 2019
BELGIUM: Cooling offers real potential to contribute to a carbon neutral Europe, but a lack of awareness and long-term strategies means its potential has not been fully recognised. Read more…