The European Union's energy policy and climate change

Abstract

Energy has become a major and influential component in our everyday lives. In today's world, energy has slowly turned into an important issue, as states increasingly become more aware of the problems that they most probably will face in the near future unless drastic steps for change are taken. I have therefore chosen to discuss this particular area as it is an important factor and reality which must be dealt with in order for us to have a future. Today's world is greatly dependent on energy for several reasons. It is essential for most forms of transport, for heating and cooling our houses, and running our factories, farms and offices. Currently, energy is mainly created through the use of fossil fuels. These are a finite resource and it is estimated that most reserves will be used up within the next few decades. Apart from problem, fossil fuels are considered to be a main contributor to another phenomenon, global warming. So using and depending on fossil fuels as our main source of energy cannot be taken for granted anymore. As a result, in the beginning of 2007 the European Union (EU) proposed a new energy policy so as to try and move closer towards becoming a low-energy economy, whilst at the same time trying to make the energy that we use more secure, competitive and sustainable. It was decided that the introduction of common policy may prove to be the most effective way to tackle today's energy challenges, which are being faced by all the Member States. In this way energy once again becomes one of the main points of focus of the EU. Researching this particular area should prove to be valid as it is a current major global issue and may also help create some more awareness on the topic. The aim of this dissertation is to focus on the current energy problem and climate change. Problems that arc being faced by all the Member States and as a result, what are the steps that are being taken to try and resolve this situation? In the first chapter of the dissertation I will be focusing and going through the European Union's proposal on the energy policy which is gradually being introduced. In Chapter two, I will be focusing more on climate change and will refer to Greenhouse emissions and the EU's determination to reducing these emissions. In Chapter three, I move on to speaking about renewable energy and sustainability and the importance of this in trying to reduce climate change. In the fourth chapter I will discuss the EU's intention of developing the necessary technologies for renewable energy, as this will play an important role in ensuring competitiveness and sustainability. By the end, this study will demonstrate that the energy problem and climate change is far from an easy task to resolve and the cooperation of every state and individual will be essential in order for the EU's Energy Proposal to be successful. Finally, through this study one should be able to justify whether this proposal is justified and is it enough to make a significant impact?