One week after the announcement of the 2030 Climate Target Plan by the European Commission, CERRE debated ways to deliver an effective green recovery and to reach Europe’s climate ambition with Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson.
We brought together the Commissioner and leaders of two prominent European energy companies: the Italian gas infrastructure company, Snam and the German utility E.ON.
The debate focused on:
- the newly announced 2030 Target Plan
- the smart Sector Integration strategy
- the role played by new technologies such as hydrogen in the climate transition
“The next months will be crucial for the success of the EU Green Deal and for Europe to exit this crisis with an economy that will be greener and greener”.
EU Energy Commissioner, Kadri Simson
Throughout the debate, Commissioner Simson underlined that the central aim of the current regulatory review is to “make Europe more resilient”. She insisted on the importance of using all instruments at our disposal to reach climate neutrality by 2050.
Sector coupling is one of these instruments. Leonhard Birnbaum, E.ON COO, underlined the impossibility to “achieve climate targets without sector integration”. It is a tool to “get better and more affordable solutions for consumers”.
“Hydrogen is not a distant technology. It’s a technology for today.”
Marco Alverà, Snam CEO
Marco Alverà, Snam CEO, stressed the role of hydrogen as a technology available today. He concurred with Commissioner Simson on the role hydrogen plays in Europe’s energy sector integration strategy.
Commissioner Simson also emphasised the need for international collaboration.
“CO2 emissions in Europe are important, but they account for 9% globally. We need to work with partners globally to encourage them to follow climate-friendly approaches too.”
The 2030 Climate Target Plan is the European Commission’s proposal to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030. This should set Europe on a responsible path to becoming climate neutral by 2050.
