歐盟執委會於3月8日通過就歐盟截至2050年前轉型成具競爭力的低碳經濟準則。同時執委會表示，如果企業仍常此以往，至2020年前歐盟僅只能達到超出2005年能源效率20%的二分之一水平而已。
該準則内容就執委會提及為達歐盟於2050年前，將溫室氣體排放量削減至1990年水平的80%-90%，即「成本效益途徑」加以説明。但環保人士警告說，為及早並於2020年前提高減排至少達40%，以避免氣候變化帶來的風險是必要的。
執委會於同一天亦通過一項據表示除減排外，還可加強歐洲競爭力並降低依賴能源的能源效率計劃。過去20年來，排放量減少了16%，而同期歐盟經濟卻增長了40%。
歐盟能源事務專員君特·歐廷格（Guenther Oettinger）表示：「儘管已取得某種程度的進展，我們的評估顯示，進一步果斷和協調一致增加能源效率的行動仍不可或缺，否則歐盟將無法在2020年前達到節能20%的目標。」
該能源效率計劃提出一項具約束力有別以往的目標，要求各國政府每年至少翻新其國内3%的建築物，同時推行政府與公共機構採購能源效率標準。
此外，並鼓勵一般私人大樓進行為節能目的的翻修，以及升等至能源效益較高的電器、工業設備、和發電/熱途徑。
該計劃的重點為推出智能網和智能電錶，提供消費者優化能源使用和節約能源計算必要的信息和服務。
歐廷格指出：「該計劃可改變我們的日常生活，並且每年替每戶省下高達1000歐元的財務開銷。還可提高歐盟的工業競爭力，創造高達兩百萬個就業機會的潛能。」
執委會表示已採取相關行動，因為引領全球過渡到低碳和高資源效率型經濟將為歐盟帶來諸多好處。
執委會將監督並執行此加強能源效率行動計劃，並在未來幾個月內將這些行動轉化成立法議案。
此外，執委會將於2013年春季對進展情況提出報告。屆時，如果審查結果顯示歐盟的總體目標無法達成，執委會將提出截至2020年具法律約束力的目標。
The European Commission today adopted a roadmap for transforming the European Union into a competitive low carbon economy by 2050. At the same time, the Commission said if business continues as usual, the EU will achieve only half its target of 20 percent improvement in energy efficiency above 2005 levels by 2020.
The roadmap describes what the Commission calls "the cost-effective pathway" to reach the EU's objective of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 80-95 percent of 1990 levels by 2050. But environmentalists warn that deeper emissions cuts must be made much earlier, at least 40 percent by 2020 to avoid dangerous climate change.
The Commission today also adopted an energy efficiency plan it said would strengthen Europe's competitiveness and reduce energy dependence, while decreasing the level of emissions. Over the past two decades, emissions have gone down by 16 percent, and the EU economy has grown by 40 percent over the same period.
European Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger said, "Despite progress, our estimates show that we need a further decisive and coordinated action on energy efficiency, without which the EU will not meet its objective of 20 percent energy savings by 2020."
The energy efficiency plan proposes a new binding target requiring governments to refurbish at least three percent of their buildings each year and introduces energy efficiency criteria in public procurement.
It encourages energy efficiency renovations for private buildings and upgrades in energy performance of appliances, industrial equipment, power and heat generation.
The plan focuses on the roll-out of smart grids and smart meters providing consumers with the information and services necessary to optimize their energy consumption and calculate energy savings.
Oettinger said, "It should transform our daily lives and generate financial savings of up to €1000 per household every year. It should improve the EU's industrial competitiveness with a potential for the creation of up to two million jobs."
The Commission says it has taken the initiative because leading the global transition to a low carbon and resource-efficient economy will have multiple benefits for the European Union.
The Commission will monitor the implementation of the energy efficiency plan and translate these actions into a legislative proposal in the coming months.
It will report on progress in spring 2013, and if the review shows that the overall EU target is unlikely to be achieved, the Commission will propose legally binding targets for 2020.
全文及圖片詳見：ENS報導
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In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
