The societal gains of efficiency
Orgalime
A global challenge requires a global response. Never has this been truer than in the context of our common challenge – namely addressing the problems of climate change. Orgalime, as the European engineering industries association, recognises its responsibilities and has identified solutions which can help to achieve commitments in greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.
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| Orgalime, the European Engineering Industries Association, speaks for 34 trade federations representing 130,000 companies in the mechanical, electrical, electronic, metalworking and metal articles industries of 22 European countries. The industry employs 11.1 million people in the EU and, in 2008, accounted for €1,885 billion of annual output. This not only represents more than one quarter of the output of manufactured products, but also a third of EU manufactured exports. |
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The old adage ‘don’t give me problems, give me solutions’ often rings out in business circles. Orgalime is offering precisely that.
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European Commission Vice President Günter Verheugen (C)
flanked by Orgalime Presidents present and past –
Robert Mahler (L) and Edward G Krubasik (R) |
Gearing up for 2020
Highlighted in the Electra report - ‘Twenty Solutions for growth and investment to 2020 and beyond’, we describe precisely how – with the right framework conditions in place – the European Union (EU) can address its 20:20:20 promises, using technologies already available. The Electra Working Group, launched in 2007, has concentrated on three areas: energy efficiency, lead customer markets and framework conditions.
The projected 2020 CO2 emissions reduction target will be in part reached by increased energy efficiency. Overall, the biggest challenge relates to the installed base (about 80% of the installed base of 2020 has already been built). The EU’s targets can only be achieved if a very large part of that installed base is improved or renovated significantly from an efficiency perspective. Using low consumption, high efficient loads (lighting systems, motors, power capacitors, transformers, cables) the optimisation of these loads can be managed by intelligent automation and control systems. Every year that passes without action reduces Europe’s (and essentially the planet’s) chance of achieving the goal.
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| Adrian Harris, Director General Orgalime, offers the solutions of Electra |
A vision for the next decade
Costs of reduction per tonne of CO2 should be the guiding principle for identifying actions to promote sustainable industrial policy and sustainable consumption and production patterns. Much of Electra’s detail is based notably on studies which propose a global mapping of greenhouse gas abatement opportunities, the notion of marginal abatement cost curves demonstrating how profitable are energy efficiency investments in relation to the cost of tonne of CO2, and on the results of the European Commission’s High Level Group on ‘Competitiveness, Energy and Environment’. This is all technically possible and in many cases economically feasible, with investment in energy efficiency providing positive returns, in particular in the face of the staggering rise in energy prices. Recommendations are therefore made in market segments which cover most of the energy chain, from the supply side to the demand side.
Orgalime strongly advocates a balance of the environmental, social and economic pillars of sustainability. Technology holds the key – a well designed mix of energies and technologies will help to address that balance. But we also need a modicum of support too; climate change policies of the future should provide general incentives or goals to reduce CO2 emissions rather than the establishment of detailed, over-elaborate technical regulation. Early retirement of energy inefficient products must be encouraged, while promoting the introduction of their energy efficient successors. And we cannot go it alone in Europe: climate change is not a problem that can be solved by one country or one region: it is a global issue which we must solve together.
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| 20 Solutions = Efficiency + Growth + Investment |
Finally of course, we must choose a way which really enables growth in a “green economy” and this means policymakers must focus on achieving the right framework conditions, including:
- A reliable long-term policy and regulatory orientation
and stability;
- Generating the conditions to provide companies with the
right market access both in the EU and internationally, as
well as a sufficient return on investment to develop
innovative sustainable products;
- Fair competition in the marketplace, especially from all
players around the globe;
- Sufficient enforcement of existing legislation with strong
market control;
- Development of programmes to encourage the necessary
skilled workforce; and,
- Better research and development and innovation policies.
Orgalime knows the solutions are there – is there the will
to match?
 Orgalime, the European
engineering industries association
W: www.orgalime.org
Relevant links:
http://orgalime.blogactiv.eu
http://twitter.com/engineercomms
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAJOeGwdtdE |
