Reducing emissions from coal in the EU

Decarbonisation in the EU: prospects for reducing emissions from coal in mainstream Europe as a means of advancing the energy transition

6 December 2018, 12 - 3 PM CET

TUSIAD Avenue des Gaulois 13, Brussels 1040

Decarbonisation has become the key word on the minds of all EU energy stakeholders and supporters of a sustainable energy transition for Europe. Indeed, the very idea of decarbonisation, both as a concept as well as sets of policy instruments, is at the very top of the agenda of the Juncker Commission. We have seen no shortage of initiatives from the European Institutions during this Commission"s term in office aiming to strengthen EU decarbonisation efforts and move us towards a low carbon economy and long-term greenhouse gas emissions reductions.

That said, most seasoned observers of the European energy transition and stakeholders concerned about the impact of climate change well and truly realise that we "still have a very long way to go". For example, according to data published by Eurostat in May 2018, СО2 emissions in the EU increased in 2017. Such announcements make us pause, think a little and perhaps put into question some of the policy instruments advancing decarbonisation in Europe at present. There is a big cloud hanging over the role of coal in Germany, as the continent"s largest economy, as well as key country championing the advancement of renewable energy at the international level.

Bearing all of this in mind, we warmly welcomed our members and guests to this BREC discussion on December 6th, where Dr Timm Kehler of "Zukunft ERDGAS e. V." helped us navigate these complex questions. In a talk evaluating some of the strategies promoting decarbonisation in Germany and other European countries, Dr Kehler evaluated the work of Germany"s Coal Exit Commission, which supports the country"s efforts to reduce emissions with greater gusto. All of this will have major implications for European energy markets, where heated debates about the future of gas, renewables and other energy sources are set to continue.

Program December 6, 2018: 12.00 — 15.00:

Scene setting comments to open the debate by Dr Marat Terterov, Founder of the Brussels Energy Club starting at 12.30
Presentation by Dr Timm Kehler, Chairman of "Zukunft ERDGAS e. V.",
Roundtable discussion with meeting participants (NB: the Chatham House Rule will apply).
Cocktail reception