Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have voted in favour of increasing the European Union’s target for renewables to ‘at least’ 30% by 2030.
The EU’s renewable energy target which states that 20% of total energy consumption should come from renewables by 2020 has already been hit by many EU member states, but others lag behind and must do more, MEPs urged in a resolution on the EU Commission’s ‘renewables progress report’ which was voted on June 23.
The resolution , which has no direct legislative impact, reiterates Parliament’s call for binding targets to ensure that renewables account for at least 30% of total energy consumption by 2030.
Europe currently has a target of at least 27% share of renewable energy consumption, which was agreed by European leaders in October 2014.
“The EU must stay at the forefront of renewables development. This means that member states must step up their efforts towards 2020, and that we must take 30% renewables consumption as the minimum goal for 2030, also at national level,” said rapporteur for renewable energy Paloma López Bermejo .
MEPs have also reiterated their previous calls for a ‘40% energy efficiency target for 2030’, considering that ‘binding requirements are vital in order to achieve a maximum degree of ambition and effort’ from the member states.
MEPs called on the EU to invest more in information and support programmes in the member states that could help raise participation in current local energy efficiency schemes, and to promote new technical developments.
The recommendations made by MEPs will feed into upcoming legislative proposals on the EU energy union.