The United Kingdom has been urged by British civic leaders and NGOs to drop its opposition to a binding energy efficiency target before next week’s summit of EU leaders in Brussels, according to EurActiv.com.

Making the target binding would encourage investors to back the UK’s green economy, and create jobs in the energy efficiency industry, the leaders of four major cities said in a letter published first by EurActiv.

Climate campaigners said that only a binding target would bring real results and spur low carbon innovation.

The 23-24 October summit is to discuss the EU’s proposed 2030 climate and energy framework, which calls for a 30% improvement in energy efficiency by 2030. Other measures in the package include a legally-binding 40% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and raising the share of renewables to 27% of the EU’s energy mix.

But it is up to the member states at the Council of Ministers to decide whether the energy savings target, criticised for being too low by campaigners, is mandatory or not.

In presenting the plans in July, the EU’s Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger called the target “achievable” yet “ambitious”, arguing in its communication that it “strikes the right balance between benefits and costs”.

UK dismisses energy savings goal

According to draft documents seen by EurActiv, the UK supports a binding target of at least 40% for greenhouse gas emissions, but does not back a similarly strict approach for the 30% energy efficiency goal.

Germany, Denmark and Portugal yesterday (14 October) renewed calls for a binding target for renewables, energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reductions.

A draft version of the Council conclusions, dated 13 October, moots an EU target for a share of renewable energy consumed in the EU of at least 27% in 2030, compared to 1990. But, after UK pressure, that will likely be an EU-wide target, instead of individual goals set for each member state.

UK government sources stressed Britain was committed to securing the 40% binding greenhouse gas target, saying the UK has positioned itself as a leader in the global climate change debate.

But the UK believes that binding targets on renewables and energy would restrict member states’ flexibility in reaching that over-arching 40% goal in the most cost-effective way.