The “climate emergency”, not a day goes by without these words. Unfortunately, the climate emergency is a reality and the IPCC’s recent report is unequivocal. To limit global warming to 1.5°C (compared to the pre-industrial era), it is essential to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 45%.
This would allow us to reach carbon neutrality around 2050, i.e. a balance between GHG emissions and their absorption by carbon sinks (and particularly by blue carbon ecosystems).
Based on this observation, the European Union has set specific targets: a 55% reduction in GHG emissions (compared to 1990 levels) and the production of 42.5% of electricity from renewable sources within the energy mix by 2030.
To achieve these objectives, many countries are positioning themselves in favour of accelerating the energy transition and are betting on renewable energy sources (RE) to reduce their GHG emissions.
This is the case, for example, in Sweden and Finland, where the share of renewable energies in the energy mix is now particularly high. Other countries such as Denmark, Spain, Germany and Portugal are relying on the potential of the ocean to produce marine renewable energy (MRE).
Sobriety, decarbonisation, democracy and equality: hallmarks of the energy transition.
The Ocean plays a crucial role in climate regulation. Unfortunately, it is now considerably impacted by global warming. It is therefore necessary to reduce GHG emissions in order to protect it and maintain its regulatory functions. Even if this means committing more firmly to an energy transition involving short-term local impacts.
Fully aware of the issues involved in accelerating the energy transition and its potential impact on the Ocean, we encourage above all
1 – Energy sobriety.
We are convinced that it is necessary, from now on, to reduce our energy consumption and to move towards a sober society in order to move away from fossil fuels (oil, gas, etc.) as quickly as possible.
We are therefore positioning ourselves, first and foremost, in favour of energy sobriety.
All energy production has an impact on the environment.
The best energy is the one we do not produce!
2 – Decarbonisation.
Distrustful of offset projects, which serve as pretexts for continuing to emit GHGs and pollute, we advocate decarbonisation of our society and our uses.
Directly linked to the notion of energy sobriety, decarbonisation refers to all measures implemented to reduce GHG emissions.
3 – Democracy and equality.
We are convinced that the energy transition and the reduction of GHG emissions cannot be achieved without a popular and egalitarian reorganisation of our economic models and lifestyles.
To achieve this, we believe that it is essential to give a particularly important place to consultation and dialogue. These must involve the various stakeholders in the territories with the aim of changing behaviour and habits in a collective manner.
The importance of a controlled development of renewable energies
The development of low-carbon energies, particularly electricity, is a priority today. Decarbonised energy production technologies must replace the use of fossil fuels, and not add to them.
For this reason, we believe that the priority should be on renewable energy, including MRE, towards which energy sector funding should be directed.
While we encourage the development of renewable energies in the framework of the energy transition, we remain vigilant on the fact that these projects must be :
– territorial projects. That is to say that they must give rise, throughout the project, to consultation and citizen participation (stakeholders AND users of the territory),
– defined in coherence with urban planning, in line with the territory’s potential and as a substitute for existing carbon-based energy production,
– respectful of the environment. It is essential to carry out upstream environmental studies and assessments beforehand, to take drastic measures to avoid and reduce impacts. Caution should also be required for projects located near or even within protected areas to ensure that conservation objectives are respected. Areas under high or full protection should be absolutely excluded from ENR development projects.
The EU’s strategies for developing renewable energies rely heavily on the potential of the ocean and on marine renewable energies (MRE) in order to achieve the objectives of the energy mix. These will be key components of the European energy system by 2050, and offshore wind turbines in particular, which means that we need to be vigilant about the multiple impacts they will have, especially on marine biodiversity.
Stay tuned, our analysis will be completed shortly…
