Energy Efficiency in Europe

In December 2015, the COP21 meeting and the Paris Agreement stressed more than ever how crucial it is for the future of mankind to hold the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels (and even to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels). According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), energy efficiency
is central to any two-degree energy scenario. The IEA considers that, by 2035, investments in energy efficiency need to represent nearly half of all the global energy investments required to stay under the two degree limit1. Accordingly, energy efficiency is one of the key elements of the EU’s energy policy. This is reflected in existing legislation and in targets to be reached by 2020 and 2030.