European authorities are playing leapfrog in announcing ambitious targets. Just a few days after the European Council agreed on 20% targets (or 30%) for 2020, the UK government leaped to double this number: 60% less emissions of greenhouse gases in 2050. The G8 environment ministers in Potsdam will surely not want to stay behind.

We can conclude that finally media and politicians acknowledge the importance of sustainable energy – which of course the business already knew for a long time. Finally, also the innovative force is acknowledged, perfectly fitting in the Lisbon agenda for EU’s economic growth.

Of course the development of a sustainable energy supply will create winners and losers, but wouldn’t that be the case in any major change in society? The zero-option, doing nothing, would surely cost a lot to society. This main message from Nicholas Stern was well taken by all heads of state. Even the nuclear and coal countries within the EU are willing to join, under conditions of course.

A few months ago Noé van Hulst, chief of the research department of the IEA, warned the energy community that the transition to a low carbon energy supply ‘is going to hurt’. Most countries are already aware of that. In order to ease their pain they started negotiations about their share of the targets in an early stage.

But the pain will not be so bad after all. Economical injuries will be smoothened by innovations, new jobs and new industries. Sacrifices in personal comfort will be nil; we only have to be aware of our energy consumption and do something smart with it. The media and political attention for climate issues of last week will not be a brief hype.

Rolf de Vos

Chief editor