The EU’s 2030 Energy and Climate Change Package

Fit for a food-and energy-secure world?

Publication date: 2 June 2014
Author: Kiri Hanks, Climate Policy Adviser Oxfam GB, and Lies Craeynest, EU Economic Justice Policy Advisor, Oxfam International

The EU is facing an energy wake-up call as a food and fuel crisis looms. Political instability from Russia and Ukraine is combining with climate vulnerability in the EU’s key exporters. Big decisions are being taken now about Europe's energy future as the EU negotiates a new set of climate and energy targets for 2030. This briefing shows that the only way to guarantee secure and affordable energy, and to climate-proof Europe’s food, is for the EU to urgently increase climate action and to wean itself off fossil fuels, rather than opt for a dead-end route of more coal extraction and fracking.

Oxfam is calling for the EU to agree targets to reduce energy demand and boost sustainable renewable energy to help cut emissions by at least 55 percent by 2030. These actions will help to keep energy affordable for Europe and tackle climate change – which will have most impact on the poorest people and reverse the fight against hunger.