
Breadcrumbs
Europe’s failure to tackle coal
This report explores the risks facing the EU low-carbon transition.
About
This new report covers coal emissions in the European power sector. Coal for power now represents 18% of total EU CO2 emissions, equivalent to all road transport.
The report explores the question of how long high coal use in the EU could continue and concludes that unless there are changes in the EU’s energy and climate policies it could remain stubbornly high into the next decade.
If EU politicians do not act urgently, Sandbag shows that current policy will not guarantee the end of unabated coal, calling in to question the credibility of Europe’s climate change and energy policy. And with no guarantee of continued renewables and energy efficiency growth after 2020, coal’s comeback could become permanent.
Executive summary
If the EU climate policy can’t stop coal, then it is not credible.
Coal emissions rose 6% from 2010-13, despite massive investment in renewables and electricity demand falling.
- Urgent reform of the ETS through cancellation of surplus allowances and the early introduction of a market stability reserve coupled with aggressive increases to the Linear Reduction Factor.
- The introduction of mandatory power sector carbon intensity reporting and monitoring at an EU level coupled with a new steadily declining emissions performance standard for suppliers of electricity in the EU.
- A new round of grant funding for CCS projects specifically targeted at countries with a higher-than average dependence on coal in the power sector.
- A clear state aid policy that states that capacity market payments should align with EU climate policy and take efficiency and carbon intensity into account.