New EU rules put Brussels at forefront of global climate-change battle,
while Westminster’s Brexit power-grab from Holyrood jeopardises Scotland’s
environment goals
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has welcomed the European
Union’s (EU) decision to increase its renewable energy target from 27 per
cent to 32 per cent by 2030.
Adnan Amin, Director-General or IRENA said the move reinforces the EU’s
position at the forefront of energy transformation and reflects the new
economics of renewable energy.
He said: “The EU’s decision to increase its renewable energy target from 27
per cent to 32 per cent by 2030 is a move that consolidates Europe’s
position at the forefront of the global energy transformation, and
establishes a positive decarbonisation pathway in line with its commitments
under the Paris Agreement.
“It is also recognition that the new economics of renewable energy have
propelled it to the forefront of energy policy and investment decision
making as governments around the world look to address long-term climate
and economic agendas.
“Our renewable energy roadmap analysis, delivered to the European
Commission earlier this year, identified that higher shares of renewable
energy in the EU were cost-effective and would have a net positive economic
impact.
“This ambitious and achievable new strategy will drive significant
additional investment activity, creating thousands of new skilled jobs and
improving health and wellbeing whilst decarbonising the European energy
system. We welcome the decision and believe it can act as a source of
encouragement to global policymakers, and as a clear reminder of the
centrality of renewable energy to both economic prosperity and climate
stability.”
The new EU policy has been broadly welcomed across the Union by major
political groups in Brussels/ Strasburg and also by leaders in major
transport, manufacturing and service sectors.
But at the same time, it also highlights the potential vulnerability of
Scotland’s pre-eminent position in setting – and so far achieving –
ambitious climate-change targets for emissions reductions in context of
British Independence from the EU Bloc.
As was spectacularly seen with the protest walk-out from the Westminster
parliament by SNP MPs in Scottish seats earlier this week, the Tory party/
Westminster power -grab to divert returning powers on Brexit over the
environment (and climate-change) to Westminster rather than Holyrood could
entirely jeopardise the power of the Scot-Govt (of any political
persuasion) to set Scotland-specific climate-change targets.
Such a doomsday scenario was highlighted by speakers and delegates alike at
the agenda-setting ‘Renewables After Brexit’ conference organised by Dundee
University in December 2017 – where Alex Salmond, former SNP leader and
former Scottish Minister Minister was key speaker.
Neither the Scottish environment minister (Roseanna Cunningham) nor the
Scottish Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse replied to invitations to speak as
they were working on ‘rosy-tinted’ briefings from their civil servants that
Brexit would have little impact on energy.
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