100% renewables future 

We are facing converging crises: climate, biodiversity, energy security.  A 100% renewables-based energy system is key to address these crises jointly and pave the way for a sustainable future. 

Across Europe and beyond, communities are already suffering the consequences of climate change, such as droughts, crop failures, flooding and wildfires. Our world needs to overcome the age of fossil fuel, and transition from an extractive to a regenerative economy. It means a sustainable, just and secure energy system that is 100% renewable, democratically-owned, and which does not compromise the well-being of ecosystems and future generations. 

According to our estimates in the Paris Agreement Compatible (PAC) scenario, for the EU to reach climate neutrality, the EU’s final energy consumption must be halved and renewable energy supply needs to be scaled up by a factor of 2.5 from 2020 levels by 2050.  

For this reason, following the 2021 European Commission’s proposals under the ‘Fit for 55’ package, the EEB works to urge EU policymakers to step up their level of ambition and aim for a 50% target of renewable energy consumption by 2030, with the objective of reaching 100% by 2040. 

As the success of the energy transition will ultimately rely on scaling up renewable energy capacity while at the same time reducing energy consumption, the role of energy efficiency and sufficiency is of paramount importance. 

While quickly enhancing renewable energy capacity is a crucial component of the European Green Deal, it must not be achieved at the expense of protecting and restoring ecosystems and biodiversity. From site selection to mitigation tools, the EEB believes that the EU’s energy policy can drive ambitious deployment of new RES facilities and infrastructure in a Nature-Positive way. 

Putting energy back in the hands of people and communities is pivotal, as community-owned renewable energy projects can revitalise local economies by creating local jobs, reducing energy bills, and helping money stay in the community — thereby reducing potential local opposition to new renewable energy projects.