From a communication point of view, yesterday’s press coverage of the Commission’s energy and climate plans was really essential. At least the targets are ambitious: a minimum of 20%, but preferably 30% fewer greenhouse gas emissions in 2020, 20% extra energy savings through energy efficiency and 20% renewable energy. Targets are supposed to be binding, so no one can escape. Thus the European authorities have taken a next step, now it’s our turn again.

From a practical point of view, the Commission’s proposals still miss one essential step: they don’t contain any legislation yet. Criticism saying that the Commission is again causing an insecure future for the renewables sector, has not come out of the blue.

But there’s no denying that the Commission is taking the lead on the international climate change and energy stage. First priority is to translate these nice plans for a low carbon energy future into real measures and laws, helping renewable energy and energy efficiency to achieve substantial growth, in real competition with the old-fashioned energy sources.

The next hurdle will be the specialised Councils for Energy and Environment (both in February) and the European Council on 8 and 9 March. On these occasions Member States will have to show their commitment, approve the overall targets and show their willingness to meet national targets. The European Commission is optimistic that their plans will be approved, but others fear that Member States will pull back at the moment supreme, supported by the large fossil fuelled and nuclear energy companies.

In the coming two months we have to prove we indeed want to be released from our prisoner’s dilemma.

Rolf de Vos

Editor in chief