WG Environment and Energy

Our working group “Environment and Energy” deals with on how to achieve targets of EU climate policy according to EU Green Deal and the Paris Agreement because we are the last generation that can stop irreversible climate change. Since energy industry and consequently energy consumption directly affect the environment, joing this working group can provide us a clearer strategy on how to tackle climate change and how to deal with plans to achieve the proposed target based on your expertise. We are the first generation to feel the effect of climate change and the last generation who can do something about it.

What is the aim of this working group?

Since the global population and living standards rise, society will face an increase in energy demand but it needs to be with a lower carbon footprint. As indicated in the targets of Paris agreement and EU green deal, the working group agenda will concern how to deliver a reduction of emissions of at least 55% compared to 1990 levels by 2030 to how to achieve to become climate neutral by 2050. According to the plan to be achieved by 2030 based on EU climate targets, we are also wll looking through how to tackle energy poverty and build suistainable and energy efficient.

Additionally, as forests cover over 43% of the EU land area, we need to rethink how to achieve larger, healthier and more resilient forests, which can lead us to provide carbon storage, improve our health, and halt the loss of habitats, species, and biodiversity in general. According to the plan by 2030, we will at least look towards 3 billion additional trees planted and increasing our natural carbon sink. According to its highest value, wood will need to play a key role since 60% of EU’s renewable energy is wood bioenergy. However, decarbonising energy systems need to result in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030. By considering new energy efficiency targets for final and primary energy consumption by 36-39%, we have to think how to increase the use of renewable energy in buildings, heating and cooling systems, power industry and in a cleaner transport.

About our working group chairperson Zia Hoseini

As a researcher in Wageningen University & Research, who is passionate about the energy transition and delivering environmental promises, I found European liberals for the reform caucus vowed to take urgent action to save the planet and tackle climate change. We can stop irreversible climate change by pursuing a radical, credible, and detailed plan to tackle the climate emergency. Serving as chairperson means a lot for me, which can allow me to get familiar with a variety of thoughts and ideas. By discussing ideas we can achieve feasible and applicable solutions towards tackling climate change, decarbonising power, greening homes, cleaning up business and industry and protecting planet by all means. Being a chairperson ensures me to conform the outcome of our discussion to an academic framework and ensure that the applicability of exchanging thoughts and ideas is based on references and prior experiences while considering innovative solutions and ideas towards decision-making in these phenomena.

If you are interested in participating in this working group, please send an email with your contact details to: wg-environment-and-energy@elfr.eu and Zia Hoseini will come back to you as soon as possible. Please put workinggroups@elfr.eu in CC. We are looking forward to your contribution!

Next working group meeting:

See an overview of our upcoming working group meetings here

Author Profile

Piotr Azia

Piotr Azia, Polish-Italian, I feel more European than anything else. My contributions range from the media to culture, the environment and geopolitics – and any subject that may merit discussing from a liberal point of view. I also organise ELfR webinars – get in touch if you have a subject you’d like to discuss or see included in future