The Shift Project
TSP
The Shift Project, a non-profit organisation, is a French think-tank dedicated to informing and influencing the debate on energy transition in Europe based on research and a holistic approach regarding energy and climate issues.
ID: 793026615069-12
Lobbying Activity
Meeting with Heidi Hautala (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)
16 Apr 2024 · Working dinner on CSDDD
Meeting with Philippe Lamberts (Member of the European Parliament)
28 Apr 2023 · Energy transition
Meeting with Pascal Canfin (Member of the European Parliament) and WWF European Policy Programme and
3 Apr 2023 · Green finance
Meeting with Axel Voss (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)
14 Mar 2023 · Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence
Meeting with Heidi Hautala (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)
14 Mar 2023 · Due diligence
Meeting with Heidi Hautala (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)
13 Mar 2023 · Working dinner on CSDD
Meeting with Axel Voss (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and amfori - Trade with Purpose and Global Network Initiative
13 Mar 2023 · Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence
Meeting with Heidi Hautala (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)
7 Mar 2023 · Due diligence
Meeting with Heidi Hautala (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)
25 Oct 2022 · Due Diligence
Meeting with Thierry Breton (Commissioner) and Google and
6 Sept 2022 · meeting with the Green Digital Coalition - Main topic : state of play on sustainable digitalization
Response to 2022 Strategic Foresight Report
17 Mar 2022
The Shift Project has led several research projects on the environmental impact of digital technologies. Its project "Lean ICT" presented a reflection on the practices and actions (including policy actions) that can limit this impact, direct or indirect, while maximising the benefits digital technologies can bring to society and the low carbon transition.
In a context of the energy consumption (and GHG emissions) of digital increasing faster than most predictions, it is important to bear in mind that digital technologies as a whole are subject to the same constraints as the rest of our systems and no specific technology can pull itself out of this framework. Despite the prodigious technological advances of recent years, an effective contribution of digital technology to the green transition can only be achieved through considered and well-thought out use. Preserving the positive impact of digital technology requires the careful management of its development: in terms of generalising new uses, deployment of new infrastructures, marketing of new devices and technical solutions. Our understanding of digital systems, their challenges, their potential but also their vulnerabilities has now reached a new stage of maturity. Therefore the Commission's strategic report comes at a critical moment.
The Shift Project believes that making the digital transition an enabler of the green transition will be key, not only to deliver the fast-paced changes we need to see in our society, but also to make digital actors the cornerstone of tomorrow’s economy, sober in its resource use. This is what The Shift Project calls “digital sufficiency”, or sobriety, moving from an instinctive or compulsive use of digital systems to a more controlled use of digital technologies, constructed by measuring both the associated risks and opportunities.
In the attached document we have summarised some key points from our research in the past few years, and referenced other reports and analyses on the environmental impact of digital technologies.
Read full responseResponse to Revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive 2010/31/EU
22 Mar 2021
The Shift Project would like to thank the Commission for the opportunity to provide a feedback on the inception impact assessment for the revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. The Shift Project is a French-based think tank advocating the shift to a carbon-free economy.
Lowering the energy demand and Co2 emissions of the EU building stock is central to reach carbon neutrality. In that endeavor, parallel efforts are needed to decarbonise both the heating and cooling systems of the buildings as well as renovating them to improve their energy efficiency.
In that regard, the whole range of the EU’s legislative framework which can accelerate the delivery of those two goals needs to be significantly strengthened. This includes the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive but also the Effort Sharing Regulation, the Energy Efficiency Directive (in particular Articles 1-3, 5 and 7) and the Ecodesign and Ecolabelling.
In this framework, the EPBD revision is essential to fit the current weak legal text to the objective of massively upscaling buildings renovation and decarbonisation of heating and cooling systems. However, we note that the current goal of doubling the renovation rate in the Renovation Wave strategy and coherently in this roadmap should be threefold, from the current 1% to 3%, to deliver the 2050 goal of an energy efficient and decarbonised building stock.
Currently, in many Member States, as in France, there does not exist a sufficient “natural” demand for building renovations and it leaves the renovation programmes themselves alone to trigger demand, notably thanks to governmental support and obligations.
Moreover, accelerating the renovation rate and depth would be beneficial for the overall society, as building renovations bring multiple benefits. As already recognized in this roadmap, energetic renovations of buildings create local jobs, lower energy bills, decrease energy poverty, improve air quality and comfort and increase the value of the renovated asset.
Related to the proposals brought forward, the Shift Project would like to underline that it supports the third option, the only option that would lead to the significant improvement of the current directive’s ambition. In particular, the envisaged introduction of Mandatory Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for buildings is crucial to create the currently missing demand for building renovations while Building Renovation Passports, designed to clarify the necessary upcoming renovation milestones for each building, should be made mandatory in all Member States.
We would like to add that renovation of buildings and more generally all climate and energy measures at EU level should not only be linked to cost optimality but also, and first and foremost, to the compatibility of those measures with the objectives of the Paris Agreement.
As a final point, it is important to address in the revision of the EPBD the possibility that building renovations do not necessarily deliver the full extent of the foreseen reduction in the energy consumption of a building. Potential rebound effects following the improvement of the insulation should not be dismissed, in particular for worse-performing buildings. Several elements can be introduced to prevent those rebound effects as energy management systems, awareness-raising programs or fiscal incentive schemes designed to prevent an increase in energy consumption. Overall, changes in ownership or deep renovations are important milestones in the lifetime of the building. These constitute important opportunities for owners or tenants to adopt new energy behaviors, at least to adapt to the renovated building, and at best to complement the efficiency benefits through energy sobriety, which can deliver additional energy savings.
The full feedback of the Shift Project, which notably goes into details on our views regarding the introduction of MEPSs and BRPs, can be found in the attached document.
Read full responseMeeting with Didier Reynders (Commissioner) and
4 Feb 2021 · Substainable Corporate Governance
Response to Revision of the CO2 emission standards for cars and vans
26 Nov 2020
The Shift Project welcomes the revision of the CO2 emission standards for cars and vans and allow them to contribute to their fair share of the 2030 CO2 emission reduction target.
We support an effective holistic approach across three overarching axes: decrease in demand for transportation in absolute terms (sobriety), shift of habits towards less polluting transport modes and practices (modal shift), improvement of energy efficiency of the vehicules. Residual energy demand should of course be met with low-carbon sources.
The Commission should address the former (sobriety) by drafting dedicated legislative proposals to that effect.
Furthermore, the Shift Project suggests the following measures for existing EU legislation:
Reject the inclusion of road transport in the ETS
Increase fuel taxation (Energy Taxation Directive), notably to avoid a potential rebound effect due to less-consuming vehicles, in a socially acceptable way.
Strengthen the “polluter-pays” principle through the inclusion of explicit negative externalities (Eurovignette)
Beyond these general considerations, the revision of the CO2 emissions standards should focus on the following points:
1. The methodology should evaluate the impacts on GDP and CO2 emissions of a "sobriety scenario", in which the number of cars sold and the total transport activity for cars and vans is willingly reduced. Conclusions should be drawn on how activity reduction would be an effective solution for the transport sector to play it’s fair share towards reaching the EU goal of -55% CO2 emissions in 2030.
2. The CO2 reduction target, although not sufficient to address the climate impact of cars and vans, should be increased in order to further decarbonise tailpipe emissions. The Shift Project recommends that cars in 2030 should consume the equivalent of 2L/100km, which translates into a CO2 target of roughly 47 g/km or about -60% CO2 reduction compared to the expected 2021 baseline.
3. The car CO2 standard revision should go beyond setting CO2 reduction targets and incentivise lighter and less energy intensive vehicles in order to achieve “real” decarbonisation. The current mass utility parameter (carmakers selling heavier vehicles get higher CO2 targets) gives the wrong signal and contributes to the rise in SUV sales. The Shift Project believes that the mass utility parameter should be at least deleted for this legislation to be coherent with the climate ambition and the urgency to drastically reduce our environmental footprint. The Commission should also investigate the possibility to reverse the utility parameters based on mass, which would give a lower target to carmakers selling heavier vehicles. This would have the positive effect of further incentivizing lightweighting and smaller-sized vehicles.
4. Potential supply constraints on the oil supply should be considered. The Shift Project has shown in June 2020 that from 2019 to 2030, the total volume produced by the EU’s current oil providers is likely to shrink by up to 8% because of a decline in the production capacities. The IA for the 2030 Climate target plan claims that oil will supply 84%-87% of the EU’s energy needs for transport, down from 89%. This small relative decrease in oil dependency would be compensated by any absolute increase in total activity, which places the EU at risk of severe constraints on EU oil supplies and further stresses the importance of a reduction in the transport activity.
5. Earmark the revenues from penalties to incentivise modal shift and reduction of the use of private cars via investment in active mobility infrastructure and public transport.
Finally, new regulatory efforts and legislative tools should be deployed to tackle the increasing weight and size of cars. For example a mass standard could be considered to require carmakers to produce smaller and lighter cars (The Shift Project advocates for an average weight of 1,260 kg for cars, at least for coming years).
Read full responseResponse to Updating the EU Emissions Trading System
26 Nov 2020
Making the European Green Deal a success requires market conditions that favour zero and low-carbon investments. But the “price signal” that the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) was supposed to set takes a long time to materialise and impact EU emissions, while the ETS remains vulnerable to external shocks, as we have seen with the recent pandemic and halt to many economic activities.
The Shift Project believes the review of the ETS should focus on sending a predictable, stable and robust price signal to drive low-carbon investments. To do so, the ETS should move from a “quantity only” to a “quantity-and-price-based” mechanism. But having a “price” is not enough: in some sectors like road transport or buildings, other tools will be more efficient.
1/ A price corridor should be introduced to ensure stability, predictability and meaningfulness of the EU carbon price
To align with the 55% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions the ETS review should first aim to tackle the volatility and low level of the carbon price signal. Even the current carbon price of around 25€/tCO2 does not send the needed investment signals, as too volatile and too low to promote long-term investment in alternative, low-carbon technologies.
The Shift Project therefore recommends introducing a price corridor in the ETS. A price corridor would guarantee a predictable and steadily increasing carbon price. It would be composed of an auction reserve price as “floor”, and a soft price ceiling would be set up through a reserve of allowances, consistent with the cap and to be released when the market price reaches the ceiling price. The trajectory of both would be determined and made explicit in advance.
Such a price corridor would also be implemented through improvements of the Market Stability Reserve (MSR). The MSR, which allowed progress in removing surplus quotas from the market, could be upgraded so that quotas are placed in the reserve when the auction price goes below the floor price, and released when the auction price exceeds the ceiling price. This would complement the volume-based activation mechanism of the MSR with a price-based one. Such a system would be resilient to situations of high uncertainty in the like of the Covid-19 crisis.
2/ Extending the ETS scope should not come in replacement of efficient sectoral measures.
Expanding the scope of the ETS to road transport and buildings should never be seen as a replacement for sectoral regulatory measures. Although carbon pricing is essential to drive investments, it is just one of many tools available to decision-makers. In many cases, other tools (direct subsidies, emission standards or outright bans) may prove more environmentally efficient or socially acceptable.
Indeed, carbon pricing is usually insufficient to support the early stage development of new technologies. The price required is simply too high to be politically acceptable or economically beneficial. Moreover, price-elasticity varies greatly between sectors given the rigidities inherent to some sectors (e.g. some people need cars for commuting, and new cars are expensive) and the fluidity of others (e.g. coal power plants can be switched off fairly quickly). The French “Gilets Jaunes” crisis provides valuable insights into such matters as price-elasticity of demand and behaviours and acceptability of price constraints.
Therefore, when it comes to buildings or road transport, ambitious standards, favorable investment frameworks and support measures should be favoured. The Commission’s 2030 impact assessment shows that a regulatory pathway is more effective and less costly in reducing emissions. Thus strict vehicle CO2 standards complemented by standards on vehicle weight should be the main policy tool for cars, while modal shift and adapted infrastructure are necessary too. Regarding buildings, CO2 standards should be developed in addition to energy standards to decrease emissions of the sector.
Read full responseResponse to Review of Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency
20 Sept 2020
The Shift Project would like to thank the Commission for the opportunity to provide feedback to the evaluation/review roadmap of the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED).
The Shift Project would like to highlight several points in its feedback, the details of those are provided in the document attached:
1- Europe needs to improve its energy efficiency and, simultaneously, to promote energy sufficiency, for instance through an Energy Sufficiency Directive.
2- The Energy Efficiency target for 2030 should be increased to at least 40% and made binding.
3- Article 5 of the Energy Efficiency Directive should be extended to all public buildings and alternative measures deleted.
4- Other provisions (article 16 and article 20 notably) should be significantly strengthened.
You can consult the attached document for the comprehensive feedback of The Shift Project.
Read full responseResponse to Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy
29 Jul 2020
The Shift Project welcomes the Commission’s objective to reduce by 90% transport-related greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 2050. To this end, we advocate for a use-based holistic approach, using systematically CO2 km / passenger comparative and life cycle analysis. To be effective, European policy has to be implemented across three overarching axes: decrease in global demand (sobriety), shift of habits towards less polluting transport modes and practices, improvement of efficiency of the vehicles. The efforts should focus on lowering emission from the most important sectors in absolute value (road transport) and in relative growth (aviation).
Please find attached a short document containing our suggestions to reduce transport-related GHG emissions effectively.
Read full responseResponse to A EU hydrogen strategy
8 Jun 2020
The shift Project (TSP) se réjouit de la volonté de la CE de décarboner l’UE en s’appuyant sur des technologies présentes et en explorant les possibilités futures parmi lesquelles l’hydrogène pourrait avoir un rôle à jouer.
Cependant, TSP souhaiterait porter à connaissance de la Commission des éléments de nature à valoriser au mieux les investissements à venir tout en évitant une dépréciation d‘actifs non amortis. En effet, l’hydrogène dans la transition énergétique n’étant pas une source primaire d’énergie mais un vecteur énergétique, il doit être adossé à une énergie primaire décarbonée (or l’énergie primaire dans l’UE aujourd’hui, c’est plus de 90% d’énergie fossile à l’heure actuelle) ayant un Taux de Retour Energétique (TRE) suffisant pour le rendre compatible avec le fonctionnement dans la durée de notre société.
En effet, le processus complet de l’hydrogène comporte de nombreuses étapes et transformations depuis sa production jusqu’à son utilisation finale. Cette succession d’étapes induit une perte d’efficacité et conduit à un rendement complet compris entre 25% et 66% (selon l’usage et les technologies). De plus, la valorisation des pertes thermiques est complexe et doit répondre à une demande spécifique qui n’est pas toujours là. Quand il est fabriqué à partir de combustible fossile le contenu carbone de l’hydrogène est fortement dégradé. La production actuelle d’hydrogène dans le monde (issue du gaz naturel ou du charbon) génère annuellement 830Mt de CO2 : 10tCO2/tH2 quand l’hydrogène est produit par reformage de gaz naturel et 19tCO2/tH2 quand il est produit par gazéification de charbon. Ainsi, donc, la génération d’une tonne d’hydrogène libère en moyenne 12 tonnes de CO2 lorsqu’il est produit à partir d’une source carbonée.
De ce fait, l’utilisation de l’hydrogène et ses dérivés doit être réservée aux secteurs pour lesquels il n’existe peu ou pas d’alternatives :
- La production d’engrais azotés
- L’aviation
- Le transport maritime
- La chimie et la métallurgie
- La production de chaleur industrielle (au cas par cas)
- Le transport public (au cas par cas)
- Le transport ferroviaire (au cas par cas)
- La pétrochimie (en tenant en compte la décrue souhaitée de son usage)
- Le last miles routier en intermodalité avec le ferroviaire
Si l’on souhaite le généraliser ou l’utiliser pour d’autres usages, il sera obligatoire de trouver une source d’énergie primaire ayant un TRE supérieur à 40 à minima et préservant le climat. Ainsi, l’hydrogène ainsi généré s’inscrira dans une stratégie de long terme à la fois du point de vue climatique mais aussi rendant ces usages compatibles avec notre mode de fonctionnement actuel fortement lié aux TRE élevés des énergies fossiles. On estime généralement que dégrader le TRE global d’une société implique une réduction des services offerts à la population et un accroissement des inégalités.
A titre de comparaison :
- Le TRE du vecteur hydrogène sur une base de gaz naturel est compris entre 35 et 60
- Le TRE du vecteur hydrogène sur une base nucléaire est compris entre 30 et 50
- Le TRE du vecteur hydrogène sur une base éolienne est compris entre 10 et 25
- Le TRE du vecteur hydrogène sur une base photovoltaïque est inférieur à 10
- Le TRE du vecteur hydrogène sur une base biomasse (hors bois) est inférieur à 10
En ce qui concerne l’hydrogène naturel (géologique), selon les dernières études, il serait à réserver à des usages locaux et spécifiques selon une étude à faire au cas par cas étant données les difficultés d’exploitation de celui-ci et les gisements limités.
Enfin, la production d’hydrogène à partir de vaporeformage de Gaz Naturel (Méthane) avec capture de CO2 impliquera une dégradation du TRE étant donnés les pertes sur la capture, le traitement ou le stockage du CO2 généré par le process. Ceci devant également être pris en compte lors de l’évaluation du processus complet.
Read full responseResponse to EU rules on industrial emissions - revision
21 Apr 2020
The Shift Project (TSP) is a think-tank advocating the shift to a post-carbon economy. As a non-profit organization committed to serving the general interest through scientific objectivity, we are dedicated to informing and influencing the debate on energy transition in Europe.
As industries are partners and their future are a fundamental consideration, TSP values the revision of the IED and his adequate coordination with the European green-deal as proposed by the EC.
In order to support this revision, TSP has also identified in his studies some points which should be considered in order to achieve the objectives of clean air, water and soil.
First, in order to limit the likely depreciation of the assets due to the quick transition which is coming, the BAT must be chosen and promoted wisely in a stable long-term socio-economic vision of the sustainable future. Every change could be the cause of significant losses of undepreciated investments. As losses are still inevitable, subsidies should be foreseen and studied while considering the possible rebound, windfall and counterproductive effects. To this end, an important lever identified by TSP is the carbon price which has not to be seen as a tax. The carbon price corridor indeed reconciles cost-efficiency with the aim of triggering the necessary low-carbon investments needed to keep global warming well below 2 ° C. It makes the carbon price signal explicit, predictable and steadily growing. By giving the carbon price its full incentive value, it creates a predictable income for investment.
As steel industry is the major emitter of GHG followed closely by cement and chemical sectors according to TSP studies. Solutions could be set up quickly for these sectors. For construction sector, wood and wood-steel composites may replace steels and concrete and TSP suggest that substitution of high-emission construction materials (concrete, steel, aluminium, etc.) by wood products should be doubled by 2050. The implementation of a program (increase in production of wood, redirecting flows and structuring of the industry) would enable the EU to reduce its emissions by at least 100 million tons of CO2 in 2050 while also benefitting from other economic, social and environmental advantages. In the same way, clinker may be replaced by other materials in order to promote the performance and not the composition.
TSP wants to put a strong emphasis about the scraps exports which should remain in EU to secure supplies, reduce importation and meet the circular economy goals. Recoverable waste should not be export or landfilled.
Additionally, and as digitalization is often overrated for the decarbonization, the sustainable balance of it must be made as accordingly to our studies. The digital transition as it is currently implemented participates to global warming more than it helps preventing it. Direct environmental impacts as well as indirect environmental impacts related to the growing use of ICT are constantly underestimated. This lean approach is a form of “digital sobriety”, which is also a source of efficiency for organizations.
Finally, a proper definition of large industrial installations must be well studied to avoid the bypassing of the legislation and the shift of the problem as it was created by rules on delivery trucks replaced by a non-efficient fleet of light duty vehicles.
Support materials :
https://theshiftproject.org/en/article/lean-ict-our-new-report/
https://theshiftproject.org/en/article/european-forests-and-climate-change/
http://decarbonizeurope.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/8-Strengthening-forest-economy.pdf
http ://decarbonizeurope.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/5-The-new-industrial-revolution.pdf
http://decarbonizeurope.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/5-Industrie-version-longue.pdf (FR)
https://theshiftproject.org/en/article/global-emissions-5-per-year-now-or-impossible-later/
https://theshiftproject.org/en/article/why-a-carbon-price-corridor-is-not-a-tax/
Read full responseResponse to 2030 Climate Target Plan
12 Apr 2020
TSP is a European think tank: its mission is to act as a proactive source of proposals which focus primarily on the resources required to make the shift to an economy free of dependency on fossil fuels (and therefore of GHG).
Clean energy
TSP values the EC priority on energy efficiency and on a rapid phasing out of coal in the power sector. We advocate:
• For an explicit and predictable carbon price signal in the EU ETS, with a carbon price corridor: carbon price floor starting at 40€/ton in 2021 and growing
• Not to see gas as an energy of transition: for TSP: recourse to gas is a technological lock-in to be avoided
• The end of investment in fossil fuel (including new investment in gas infrastructure)
• The inclusion of any decarbonized source of energy in the energy mix - any mix of renewables and nuclear power, according to national preferences, as long as decarbonization is maximized.
Sustainable industry
TSP welcomes the development of a circular economy, the improvement of material efficiency and the increase of life-spans. We suggest:
• The use of waste and biomass for heating in chemical industries
• A sober and sustainable digitalisation (lean ICT)
• The non-export and landfill of recoverable wastes.
Building and renovating
As part of a roadmap for the renovation wave, TSP suggests the following measures:
• The target of “low energy building” level by 2050 for all pre-1990 constructions
• The generalisation of Building Renovation Passports in all EU, with strong support from EC and in a mandatory way at national level
• The obligation to all public buildings to make a substantial renovation at a very low carbon footprint standard
Sustainable mobility
TSP welcomes the GD ambition to cut transport emissions by 90%.
We advocate:
• A multimodal approach that includes the development of public transport systems, bicycle systems, carpooling, bus networks and home-workplace mobility
• Small and efficient cars (less than 2L/100km) when personal car is absolutely necessary: this can only be achieved with lighter, slower and less powerful cars
• Prices that reflect CO2 emission especially for the aviation sector
• The link between major cities with high-speed rail services, when decarbonized electricity is available
Biodiversity
TSP values the ambition of the EC to develop and enforce a Biodiversity Strategy.
TSP proposes the implementation of a Forest Strategy Program: a program based on the substitution of high-emission construction material by wood, sustainable management of the resource and value-making chain.
Agriculture
TSP welcomes the goals of “Farm to Fork” Strategy and advises to:
• Create a "High Environmental Quality" label for livestock
• Substitute the current subsidy-based approach by a remuneration of farmers depending on the adoption of such a label (via the CAP)
• Harmonize the evaluation of losses and waste, and improve the reliability of the data
• Standardize best-before/use-by dates on food products, making the information clear for consumers
• Encourage awareness campaigns to the public concerning food waste
Finance
TSP welcomes the GD intention to better embed sustainability into corporate governance framework, disclose climate and environmental data, and integrate climate risk data into the financial system.
TSP suggests to:
• Dedicate significant resources for the analysis of climate change-related risks, and mainstream those long-term risks in the credit rating of companies by financial agencies; stress tests must include oil shocks (from the perspective of physical quantities, not of prices)
• Set up a « brown penalizing factor », for investments aggravating climate risks
Education
Europe must create a “Green Bologna Process”: indeed, the academic response to youth mobilisation is teaching climate change and energy related facts to all students.
Further information: https://theshiftproject.org/en/home/
Read full responseResponse to Climate Law
6 Feb 2020
The Shift Project (TSP) welcomes the goal for the EU to reach zero net emissions of GHG by 2050 and advocates several measures for each sector of the EU Green Deal.
TSP's mission is to act as a proactive source of proposals which focus primarily on the resources required to make the shift to an economy free of dependency on fossil fuels (and therefore of GHG).
Clean energy
TSP values the EC priority on energy efficiency and on a rapid phasing out of coal in the power sector. We advocate:
For an explicit and predictable carbon price signal in the EU ETS, with a carbon price corridor: carbon price floor starting at 40€/ton in 2021 and growing
Not to see gas as an energy of transition: for TSP: recourse to gas is a technological lock-in to be avoided
The end of investment in fossil fuel (including new investment in gas infrastructure)
The inclusion of any decarbonized source of energy in the energy mix - any mix of renewables and nuclear power, according to national preferences, as long as decarbonization is maximized.
Sustainable industry
TSP welcomes the development of a circular economy, the improvement of material efficiency and the increase of life-spans. We suggest:
The use of waste and biomass for heating in chemical industries
A sober and sustainable digitalisation (lean ICT)
The non-export and landfill of recoverable wastes.
Building and renovating
As part of a roadmap for the renovation wave, TSP suggests the following measures:
The target of “low energy building” level by 2050 for all pre-1990 constructions
The generalisation of Building Renovation Passports in all EU, with strong support from EC and in a mandatory way at national level
The obligation to all public buildings to make a substantial renovation at a very low carbon footprint standard
Sustainable mobility
TSP welcomes the GD ambition to cut transport emissions by 90%.
We advocate:
A multimodal approach that includes the development of public transport systems, bicycle systems, carpooling, bus networks and home-workplace mobility
Small and efficient cars (less than 2L/100km) when personal car is absolutely necessary: this can only be achieved with lighter, slower and less powerful cars
Prices that reflect CO2 emission especially for the aviation sector
The link between major cities with high-speed rail services, when decarbonized electricity is available
Biodiversity
TSP values the ambition of the EC to develop and enforce a Biodiversity Strategy.
TSP proposes the implementation of a Forest Strategy Program: a program based on the substitution of high-emission construction material by wood, sustainable management of the resource and value-making chain.
Agriculture
TSP welcomes the goals of “Farm to Fork” Strategy and advises to:
Create a "High Environmental Quality" label for livestock
Substitute the current subsidy-based approach by a remuneration of farmers depending on the adoption of such a label (via the CAP)
Harmonize the evaluation of losses and waste, and improve the reliability of the data
Standardize best-before/use-by dates on food products, making the information clear for consumers
Encourage awareness campaigns to the public concerning food waste
Finance
TSP welcomes the GD intention to better embed sustainability into corporate governance framework, disclose climate and environmental data, and integrate climate risk data into the financial system.
TSP suggests to:
Dedicate significant resources for the analysis of climate change-related risks, and mainstream those long-term risks in the credit rating of companies by financial agencies; stress tests must include oil shocks (from the perspective of physical quantities, not of prices)
Set up a « brown penalizing factor », for investments aggravating climate risks
Education
Europe must create a “Green Bologna Process”: indeed, the academic response to youth mobilisation is teaching climate change and energy related facts to all students.
Read full responseMeeting with Dominique Ristori (Director-General Energy)
23 Jan 2015 · Energy transition