EU May Begin to Show that Climate Action and Markets can Work Together

Europe has agreed to new 2030 targets for emissions reductions. They will bring thei economy-wide targets from 20% reduction by 2020 to a 30% reduction by 2030. 

Some campaigners, quoted in this NY Times article see this as a step back from Europe's role of climate leadership. 

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/01/23/business/international/european-union-lowers-ambitions-on-renewable-energy.html?_r=0&referrer=

However, maybe we should question these campaigners. Groups like Greenpeace and Freinds of the Earth play an important role as a country's environmental conscience, but we should be careful about handing them the keys to the store. 

The truth is that the EU has been bold in making a choice to reduce emissions. They have been a leader in this for over a decade. I do not see why you need a target for renewables percentage to go along with that. The atmosphere literally doesn't care if you achieve emissions reductions through enhanced renewables, greater efficiency, cultural change, biofuels, or fuel switching. 

So- good for them for making a real effort to reduce emissions, and good for them for realizing that you don't need mandatory ways to reduce emissions. I suspect that the renewables penetration will be much higher in 2030 than any of these predictions, but that's a good thing!