Activities of Vera TAX related to 2021/0203(COD)
Plenary speeches (1)
Industrial Emissions Directive - Industrial Emissions Portal - Deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure - Sustainable maritime fuels (FuelEU Maritime Initiative) - Energy efficiency (recast) (joint debate - Fit for 55 and Industrial Emissions)
Amendments (8)
Amendment 70 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 4 a (new)
Recital 4 a (new)
(4a) In order to ensure that all sectors of the economy, including the transport sector, contribute to achieving the Union 2030 climate target and the objective of climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest, the Union should phase out fossil fuels and replace them by sustainable alternatives. Energy efficiency savings should be sustainable and go hand in hand with the Union climate objectives. Therefore, energy savings from policy measures regarding the use of direct fossil fuel combustion should not be eligible energy savings under the energy savings obligation.
Amendment 110 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 50
Recital 50
(50) When designing policy measures to fulfil the energy savings obligation, Member States should respect the climate and environmental standards and priorities of the Union and comply with the principle of ‘do no significant harm’ within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2020/85271 . Member States should not promote activities that are not environmentally sustainabledetrimental such as use of solid fossil fuels. The energy savings obligation aims at strengthening the response to climate change by promoting incentives to Member States to implement a sustainable and clean policy mix, which is resilient, and mitigates climate change. Therefore, energy savings from policy measures regarding the use of direct fossil fuels combustion causing direct and indirect harmful emission will not be eligible energy savings under energy savings obligation as of transposition of this Directive. It will allow aligning the energy savings obligation with the objectives of the European Green Deal, the Climate Target Plan, the Renovation Wave Strategy, and mirror the need for action identified by the IEA in its net zero report72 . The restriction aims at encouraging Member States to spend public money into future-proof, sustainable technologies only. It is important that Member States provide a clear policy framework and investment certainty to market actors. The implementation of the calculation methodology under energy savings obligation should allow all market actors to adapt their technologies in a reasonable timeframe. Where Member States support the uptake of efficient fossil fuel technologies or early replacement of such technology, for example through subsidy schemes or energy efficiency obligation schemes, energy savings may not be eligible anymore under the energy savings obligation. While energy savings resulting, for example, from the promotion of natural gas-based cogeneration would not be eligible, the restriction would not apply for indirect fossil fuel usage, for example where the electricity production includes fossil fuel generation. Policy measures targeting behavioural changes to reduce the consumption of fossil fuel, for example through information campaigns, eco- driving, should remain eligible. The energy savings from policy measures targeting building renovations may contain measures such as a replacement of fossil fuel heating systems together with building fabric improvements, which should be limited to those technologies that allow achieving the required energy savings according to the national building codes established in a Member State. Nevertheless, Member States should promote upgrading heating systems as part of deep renovations in line with the long-term objective of carbon neutrality, i.e. reducing the heating demand and covering the remaining heating demand with a carbon-free energy source. _________________ 71 Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2020 on the establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment, and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/2088, OJ L 198, 22.6.2020, p. 13–43. 72IEA (International Energy Agency) (2021), Net Zero by 2050 A Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector, https://www.iea.org/reports/net-zero-by- 2050.
Amendment 119 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 51
Recital 51
(51) Member States' energy efficiency improvement measures in transport are eligible to be taken into account for achieving their end-use energy savings obligation. Such measures include policies that are, inter alia, dedicated to promoting more efficient vehicles, a modal shift to cycling, walking and collective transport, or mobility and urban planning that reduces demand for transport. In addition, schemes which accelerate the uptake of new, more efficient vehicles or policies fostering a shift to fuels with reduced levels of emissions, except policy measures regarding the use of indirect and direct fossil fuel combustion, that reduce energy use per kilometre are also capable of being eligible, subject to compliance with the rules on materiality and additionality set out in Annex V to this Directive. Policy measures promoting the uptake of new fossil fuel vehicles should not qualify as eligible measures under the energy savings obligation.
Amendment 123 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 54
Recital 54
(54) Member States and obligated parties should make use of all available means and technologies , except regarding the use of indirect or direct fossil fuel combustion technologies, to achieve the cumulative end-use energy savings required, including by promoting sustainable technologies in efficient district heating and cooling systems, efficient heating and cooling infrastructure and energy audits or equivalent management systems, provided that the energy savings claimed comply with the requirements laid down in Article 8 and Annex V to this Directive. Member States should aim for a high degree of flexibility in the design and implementation of alternative policy measures. Member States should encourage actions resulting in energy savings over the long lifetimes.
Amendment 133 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 123
Recital 123
(123) Energy generated on or in buildings from renewable energy technologies reduces the amount of energy supplied from fossil fuels. The reduction of energy consumption and the use of energy from renewable sources in the buildings sector are important measures to reduce the Union's energy dependence and greenhouse gas emissions, especially in view of ambitious climate and energy objectives set for 2030 as well as the global commitment made in the context of the Paris Agreement. For the purposes of their cumulative energy savings obligation Member States may take into account energy savings from policy measures promoting renewable technologies to meet their energy savings requirements in accordance with the calculation methodology provided in this Directive . Energy savings from policy measures regarding the use of indirect or direct fossil fuel combustion should not be counted.
Amendment 212 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex V – point 2 – point g
Annex V – point 2 – point g
(g) policies with the purpose of encouraging higher levels of energy efficiency of products, equipment, transport systems, vehicles and fuels, buildings and building elements, processes or markets shall be permitted , except those policy measures regarding the use of indirect or direct combustion of fossil fuel technologies that are implemented as from 1 January 2024 ;
Amendment 214 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex V – point 2 – point h
Annex V – point 2 – point h
(h) Energy savings as a result of policy measures regarding the use of indirect or direct fossil fuel combustion in products, equipment, transport systems, vehicles, buildings or works shall not count towards the fulfilment of energy savings obligation as from 1 January 2024;
Amendment 218 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex V – point 2 – point k
Annex V – point 2 – point k
(k) for policies that accelerate the uptake of more efficient products and vehicles, except those regarding the use of indirect or direct fossil fuel combustion, full credit may be claimed, provided that it is shown that such uptake takes place before expiry of the average expected lifetime of the product or vehicle, or before the product or vehicle would usually be replaced, and the savings are claimed only for the period until end of the average expected lifetime of the product or vehicle to be replaced;