Leaders of the 28 EU member states today agreed on an energy and climate agreement that includes targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent and generating 27 percent of energy from renewable sources by 2030.

The head of the industrial advocates Dansk Industri, Karsten Dybvad, welcomed the news. “It’s crucial for the business community that the European leaders have now finalised a far-sighted and balanced agreement,” he said in a press release.

Danish advantage
Dybvad also points out that Danish industry will particularly benefit from the ambitious targets being set.

“Danish companies are among the best at producing with a low energy consumption. We have a global position of strength in the field of energy-saving technology and renewable energy,” he stated.

Vestas CEO Anders Runevad also expressed satisfaction with the level of the targets, although he highlighted that governance of countries’ progress in reaching them was important.

“The 27 percent EU-level renewable energy target demonstrates a continued commitment to renewables in the EU,” he said in a press release.

“In the absence of national binding targets, however, it is essential that a reliable governance system is developed to give confidence to investors that the target is truly binding.”