Europe and industrial change: A strategy to divest from fossil fuels by 2050

The general features of the new strategy were known in advance, but this document has attracted particular attention from the public and experts around the world. From 22 November, the French government will launch a consultation on its energy and climate strategy (SFEC), which is a key part of the national programme for the transition to a sustainable future. This step will culminate in the adoption of the law on ambitious programming (LPEC) in 2024, which should anchor the country's energy future for many decades to come. This initiative is not only for France, but is also part of an overall European strategy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

Reducing energy consumption

One of the central elements of the decarbonisation strategy is to reduce energy consumption, a common goal for all European Union countries. To achieve this ambitious goal, European governments, including France, are introducing energy efficiency measures such as modernising buildings and strengthening the role of electric transport. France aims to reduce energy consumption by 40-50 per cent by 2050 compared to 2021 and by 30 per cent by 2030 compared to 2012. This process has already begun: after the energy crisis caused by the war in Ukraine, the country reduced its energy consumption by 12% in one year.

Within the European context, such measures are of particular importance as they enable the continent to move towards a greener future. The European Union supports national programmes aimed at reducing energy consumption, which contributes to the creation of a common energy market based on sustainable and renewable sources. Reducing energy consumption helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increases the energy security of EU countries by reducing their dependence on imported fossil resources.

Accelerating the use of renewable energy

One of the key aspects of fossil fuel divestment is the increasing share of renewable energy sources. This trend can be seen across the European Union, with countries actively developing solar, wind and other renewable energy projects. France, like other EU states, has ambitious targets to increase carbon-free electricity production by 10 per cent by 2030 and 22 per cent by 2035. This will involve doubling the rate of deployment of solar power plants, biogas plants and thermal grids by 2030, and quadrupling the rate of geothermal energy deployment.

Particular attention is being paid to the development of offshore wind energy, an important step to meet targets for increasing the share of renewables in the EU's energy mix. France plans to install 36 offshore wind farms by 2035, equivalent to the electricity production of 13 nuclear reactors. Renewable energy development also plays an important role in achieving the European Union's climate goals. The European Union is actively supporting countries in their endeavours to meet these targets and create the basis for long-term renewable energy development.

Restarting nuclear power

In order to support low-carbon electricity generation, France, like a number of other European countries, plans to restart the development of nuclear power. The text of the strategy specifies that the lifetime of existing nuclear reactors can be extended to 60 years if all safety requirements are strictly observed. France confirms its intention to build and commission six new reactors (EPR2) between 2035 and 2042, which would be an important contribution to the European climate goals. Other EU countries such as Finland and Hungary are also continuing to develop nuclear power, demonstrating the importance of the sector to Europe's overall energy mix.

France is planning to launch a prototype of an innovative small modular reactor (SMR), which could become a key element of the EU's future energy system. The plan is to increase the capacity of existing reactors to meet safety requirements and restore their performance. This will make it possible to achieve nuclear power production of 400 TWh by 2030, a significant step towards decarbonising the economy. The European Union supports such initiatives, recognising nuclear power as an important element in the low-carbon energy transition.

Common European endeavour

France's strategy is only part of the overall picture of the changes that are taking place in Europe. The European Union has for many years supported strong action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to a low-carbon economy. These measures aim to make EU countries global leaders in the fight against climate change. Similar strategies are being developed and implemented not only in France but also in other EU countries, emphasising a common approach to tackling climate and energy challenges.

Of particular importance are measures to support innovation and new technologies that help make the energy sector more sustainable and efficient. In this context, co-operation between EU countries in the development and deployment of advanced technologies plays an important role. Such co-operation allows countries to share expertise and resources, which contributes to faster and more successful achievement of common goals. The European Union aims to lead the world in the deployment of low-carbon technologies, which requires significant effort and investment from all member states.

Conclusion

The European Strategy reflects common endeavours in the transition to a sustainable future. These measures strengthen the EU's position as a leader in the fight against climate change. Joint action will help accelerate the achievement of climate goals.