Today, half of Europe’s energy consumption derives from imported fossil fuels. And on current trends, over two-thirds of our energy consumption will come from outside the EU by 2030.

Fossil fuels, used in both the energy and transport sectors, are also the main cause of CO2 being released into the atmosphere, which is the most important greenhouse gas responsible for climate change. The impact of increased renewable production and consumption is considerably less than increased supply and consumption of conventionally produced energy.

The European Union signed up in 1997 to the Kyoto Protocol and committed itself to reducing greenhouse-gas emissions in 2012 by 8%, relative to the levels emitted in 1990. Since then, the European Union has advocated its ratification at the main international meetings. On 16 February 2005, the Kyoto Protocol entered into force.

It is in the context of the EU commitment to change the landscape of energy that the Sustainable Energy Europe 2005-2008 Campaign has been launched. Set for a period of 4 years, the Campaign will contribute to the achievement of EU energy policy goals and targets in the fields of renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, clean transport and alternative fuels.