Public Content Library

Summary

The COP21 and the resulting Paris Agreement outlines an objective to ensure sustainable human progress and economic growth across the world. This objective to limit the increase in global average temperature well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels is born out of a necessity to minimize the losses from extreme and changing weather patterns, frequent natural disasters and added stress on our natural capacity to grow as a civilization. Achieving this pragmatic commitment requires a complete rethinking of our energy production and consumption. Gradually eliminating the global dependence on non-renewable energy sources is just one avenue to limiting the worst effects of climate change. However, the harsh reality requires a more comprehensive approach to solving this global problem; in response, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has identified a more impactful avenue of progress: energy efficiency. Through this concept, we hope to create an improved ecosystem of reliable, cost-saving and sustainable energy sources and distribution. Within this system, the gains in efficiency and productivity can represent its own energy source. The European Commission has demonstrated particular receptivity and proactivity to this new conceptualization of energy consumption and is leading the political dialogue in reclassifying energy efficiency as a primary source of energy for the continent.

Published by

The European Files