100% renewable energy in Europe by 2050

Confronted not only with an economic downturn, but in particular with the challenges posed by climate change, an increasing fuel import dependency and rising fossil fuel prices, Europe urgently needs to develop solutions for a future sustainable energy system entirely based on renewable energy sources.

The answers to today’s challenges do not lie beyond our reach – they lie in the palm of our hands. By promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies, we will be able to tackle both security of energy supply and climate change, while at the same time creating a future-oriented sustainable economy with high-quality green jobs.

We therefore commit ourselves to promote an economy based on energy efficiency and renewable energy and call on local, regional, national and European leaders to support and advocate a truly sustainable 2050 vision:

Leading by example: 100% renewable energy for the European Union!

Europe needs the courage and the instruments to fully explore its energy efficiency and renewable energy potential and hence to bring about fundamental structural changes in the way we produce and consume energy. This change means no less than rewriting the rules of the game in the 21st century. Every year, each EU citizen pays around €700 for foreign fuel imports.[1] Investing these expenditures towards energy efficiency and renewable energy in Europe can boost economic development, secure energy independence, and deliver solutions to climate change.

The availability of renewable energy sources is vast enough to meet our energy needs many times over, while respecting ecological limits and social justice. In one day, the sunlight which reaches the earth produces enough energy to meet the current global power needs for eight years.[2] Numerous studies demonstrate the technical and economic scope of the EU’s energy efficiency and renewable energy potential:  100% renewable energy is entirely feasible in 2050 if the right measures are taken today![3]

We urge European leaders to quickly act and make this 2050 vision become a reality for the benefit of all EU citizens by:

1. Ensuring the timely and fully effective implementation of the 2009 Renewable Energy Directive in all EU-27 Member States
2. Setting a legally binding energy efficiency target of at least 20% by 2020
3. Removing all subsidies and structural advantages for fossil and nuclear energy
4. Ensuring that immediate financial support is given to renewable energy and energy efficiency measures in order to overcome the EU´s economic crisis in a sustainable and forward-looking manner
5. Recognising that bioenergy is a limited fuel source and ensuring sustainability of all its use, including clear sustainability criteria
6. Setting the right incentives for a European smart grid
7. Redirecting existing and focussing forthcoming EU research & development budgets as well as development and structural funds on sustainable energy priorities, namely energy efficiency, and renewable energy
8. Providing training and education of the workforce as well as information and market stimulation campaigns