The EU Energy Policy: Engaging with Partners beyond Our Borders.
European Commission, 2011
The Communication sets out for the first time a comprehensive strategy for the EU's external relations in energy. Improved coordination among EU Member States in identifying and implementing clear priorities in external energy policy is central to the approach outlined by the Commission
Energy Roadmap 2050
European Commission, 2011
On 15 December 2011, the European Commission adopted the Communication "Energy Roadmap 2050". The EU is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 80-95% below 1990 levels by 2050 in the context of necessary reductions by developed countries as a group. In the Energy Roadmap 2050 the Commission explores the challenges posed by delivering the EU's decarbonisation objective while at the same time ensuring security of energy supply and competitiveness. The Energy Roadmap 2050 is the basis for developing a long-term European framework together with all stakeholders.
Transitioning to a Renewable Energy Future
International Solar Energy Society (ISES), 2003.
This White Paper provides a rationale for effective governmental renewable energy policies worldwide, as well as sufficient information to accelerate effective governmental policies. It is the thesis of this White Paper that a worldwide effort to generate the renewable energy transition must emerge at the top of national and international political agendas, starting now.
Lessons Learned from the Energy Policies of IEA Countries 2009
International Energy Agency (IEA),2009.
IEA member countries are all committed to IEA “Shared Goals” of energy policy. Each country’s energy policies are subject to peer in-depth review by a team of experts drawn from other IEA members and supported by the staff of the IEA’s Country Studies Division (CSD). The staff of CSD therefore have a unique “helicopter view” of the different approaches that member countries are adopting to attain these goals. In 2008, for the first time, we invited them to carry out some comparative studies in the belief that, for policy makers and managers facing tough energy policy challenges, it may be useful to have a wider perspective of how the same issues are being addressed by different IEA member countries. These studies do not necessarily prove that one approach is better than another – though there are some cases where we think this is so – but they do provide a wider international perspective.
 energy_policy.pdf | [ ] |
Green paper: A European Strategy for Sustainable, Competitive and Secure Energy
European Commission, 2006
This Green Paper puts forward suggestions and options that could form the basis for a new comprehensive European energy policy. The Spring European Council and the European Parliament are invited to react to this Paper, which should also spark a wide-ranging public debate. The Commission will then table concrete proposals for action. This Green Paper identifies six key areas where action is necessary to address the challenges we face.The most fundamental question is whether there is agreement on the need to develop a new, common European strategy for energy, and whether sustainability, competitiveness and security should be the core principles to underpin the strategy.
To see more information...
| EC_2006_GreenPaper_Energy.pdf | [ ] |
An EU Energy Security and Solidarity Action Plan
Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee, and the Comittee of the Regions
The EU's new energy and environment policy agreed by the European Council in March 2007 establishes a forward-looking political agenda to achieve the Community’s core energy objectives of sustainability, competitiveness and security of supply. To make this a reality, the EU has committed to the "20-20-20" initiative: reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20%, increasing the share of renewables in the energy consumption to 20% compared to 8.5% today and improving energy efficiency by 20%, all by 2020.
| Energy_Review.pdf | [ ] |
Directive on the promotion of the use of biofuels or other renewable fuels for transport
The Council of the European Union, 2003
The European Council meeting at Gothenburg on 15 and 16 June 2001 agreed on a Community strategy for sustainable development consisting in a set of measures, which include the development of biofuels. Natural resources, and their prudent and rational utilisation as referred to in Article 174(1) of the Treaty, include oil, natural gas and solid fuels, which are essential sources of energy but also the leading sources of carbon dioxide emissions. (3) However, there is a wide range of biomass that could be used to produce biofuels, deriving from agricultural and forestry products, as well as from residues and waste from forestry and the forestry and agrifoodstuffs industry.
| Biofuels-Directive.pdf | [ ] |
Carbon Taxes: Tax What You Burn, Not What You Earn
Todd Litman
This paper describes carbon taxes in general and the British Columbia in particular. It answers common questions and evaluates criticisms of the tax. A separate paper, "Improving BC’s Carbon Tax: Changes and Enhancements To Increase Effectiveness and Equity" (http://www.vtpi.org/carbontax_improvement.pdf) describes ways to address some of these criticisms.
| carbontax.pdf | [ ] |
