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Eurobarometer survey reveals Europeans are taking motion to avoid wasting vitality and embrace clear vitality, however need extra help to make the transition and hold their payments below management
A large-ranging survey printed as we speak reveals that European residents help the vitality coverage pursued by the EU within the final 5 years. Trying forward, they categorical their sturdy backing for extra EU-wide coordination, and much more efforts at EU and nationwide degree to make vitality costs extra reasonably priced, as we pursue the clear vitality transition and guarantee our vitality independence. A big majority of respondents (77%) say the European Union ought to have a stronger coordination position on vitality issues, relying on completely different circumstances.
79% of individuals surveyed agree that our local weather targets will spur new jobs and appeal to investments within the clear vitality sector. 76% imagine our insurance policies will cut back dependence on vitality imports, and 69% suppose they’ll guarantee decreased vitality payments for households and companies. To make sure that these targets are met, 62% mentioned that Europe ought to diversify its vitality sources, together with by investing in renewables, and 54% mentioned that we must always save vitality wherever potential.
When requested what EU vitality coverage means to them, residents’ responses put a robust give attention to vitality affordability: 40% of respondents first mentioned that EU vitality coverage ought to guarantee extra reasonably priced vitality costs for customers, whereas 33% mentioned the EU needs to be investing in modern vitality applied sciences, and 30% mentioned it ought to give attention to reducing vitality consumption. When requested to call EU insurance policies of the previous 5 years which have offered added worth for Member States, 35% highlighted the help for renewable vitality investments, and 27% mentioned that the EU has added worth by investing in modern vitality applied sciences. In the meantime, 25% mentioned that Europe has helped to make sure that vitality costs are as reasonably priced as potential, and others mentioned it has facilitated shopper selections of vitality provides (24%) or vitality environment friendly merchandise (18%). When requested particularly concerning the EU vitality label, three quarters of respondents (75%) say that it influenced their selection when buying an equipment within the final 5 years.
Residents are voicing a excessive degree of concern on vitality affordability, whereas embracing the necessity for a clear vitality transition. They acknowledge that the EU mitigated the worst results of excessive vitality costs in the course of the current vitality disaster, together with by lowering value volatility and shielding weak customers from value hikes, however they need us to take care of our give attention to affordability within the years forward. Residents are additionally satisfied by the local weather neutrality goal and the advantages which might be deriving from it. The trail is lengthy, however the goal is evident: the EU’s dependence on fossil gas imports should be changed with home-grown renewable energies, for the advantage of residents and companies, and of the atmosphere. —Kadri Simson, Commissioner for Vitality
Customers are embracing the vitality transition, however need extra help
Greater than three quarters of respondents (77%) say that they took private actions, significantly altering their habits to devour much less vitality at house during the last 5 years. 55% of the respondents mentioned they’d tailored their technique of transportation to scale back their vitality consumption and 4 in ten (41%) declared they’d altered their vitality consumption patterns at work.
The concrete replies on measures taken by residents present the Renovation Wave launched by the Fee is taking maintain throughout Europe. Among the many 44% of respondents who took measures to scale back vitality consumption at house, almost half reported having insulated their roof, partitions, home windows, or ground. Multiple in 5 respondents point out altering the boiler (27%) or putting in photo voltaic panels (22%). In the meantime, virtually 4 in ten say measures weren’t taken due to monetary causes (37%) or that the choice is with their home-owner or with the constructing co-owners (36%).
Trying to the long run, when requested to select from an inventory of coverage choices to succeed in local weather neutrality, a majority of respondents say the EU ought to encourage Member States to give attention to measures that help households in vitality poverty (53%), to scale back vitality consumption (50%) or measures that assist residents to provide or devour vitality from renewable sources (50%). 38% of respondents mentioned that the EU ought to encourage Member States to give attention to measures for industries and companies; when requested what particular insurance policies would serve this purpose, 35% mentioned that the EU ought to do that by supporting innovation in clear applied sciences, whereas 30% imagine it ought to incentivise vitality financial savings.
Background
In simply a few years, the EU has re-designed virtually each a part of its vitality laws, consistent with the European Inexperienced Deal, and in response to Russia’s unlawful aggression in opposition to Ukraine, and its weaponisation of its vitality sources. Targets for renewables and vitality effectivity have been raised, constructing renovation has been boosted, and the functioning of electrical energy and fuel markets has been reformed.
With new funding devices at EU degree, spectacular progress has been made to help residents and the economic system on a pathway to decarbonisation, with the target of EU local weather neutrality by 2050.
Report-high vitality prices incurred by households and companies, triggered by larger demand following the Covid-19 pandemic, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, turned a pressure on nationwide budgets and drove inflation prior to now years. Whereas the height of the disaster is essentially behind us and vitality is not a predominant inflationary issue, vitality costs stay excessive.
The findings of as we speak’s survey are properly mirrored within the ambition of the brand new Fee for 2024–2029, as set out in President von der Leyen’s Political Pointers, and within the Mission Letters she has addressed to the Commissioners-Designate.
For extra data:
Particular 2024 Eurobarometer on ‘Europeans’ attitudes in direction of vitality coverage’
Member State factsheets
Information from European Fee, European Union.
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