New State of the Energy Union and Climate Action reports show progress in emission reductions and stronger position for renewables

In 2020, a year marked by the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, renewables overtook fossil fuels as the EU’s main power source for the first time, and greenhouse gas emissions were 31% down from 1990 levels. The Commission adopted today its State of the Energy Union Reports for 2021, taking stock of the progress that the EU is making in delivering the clean energy transition, nearly two years after the launch of the European Green Deal. While there are a number of encouraging trends, greater efforts will be required to reach the 2030 goal of cutting net emissions by at least 55% and achieving climate neutrality by 2050, and the data will need to be analysed carefully next year for more long-term post-COVID trends. The Energy Union Report is accompanied by an Annex on Energy subsidies in the EU and a Progress Report on competitiveness of clean energy technologies. In addition, the Commission adopted three reports on the progress of EU climate policies in 2020: the EU Climate Action Progress Report, the Carbon Market Report and the Fuel Quality Report. More information is available in a press release on the State of the Energy Union, a press release on the climate reports and a Q&A.