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1. Energy in a nutshell - Promoting green energy

Links to the EU Green Deal:

• Investing in environmentally-friendly technologies
• Decarbonising the energy sector

Highlights

• EU energy import dependency rate stood at 57.5% in 2020.
• Gross available energy in the EU in 2020 decreased by 8.1% compared with 2019.
• In 2020, consumption of solid fossil fuels in the EU decreased by 18.4% compared with
2019.

Targets
• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 requires higher shares of
renewable energy and greater energy efficiency.
• The Commission proposes to increase the binding target of renewable sources in the EU’s
energy mix to 40%. The proposals promote the uptake of renewable fuels, such as hydrogen
in industry and transport, with additional targets.
• The tax system for energy products must also support the green transition by giving the right
incentives. The Commission proposes to align the minimum tax rates for heating and
transport with our climate objectives, while mitigating the social impact and supporting
vulnerable citizens.

Video: Animation - Energy and the European Green Deal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlw1WM73ZDg (1 min, 18 sec)

Glossary (Source: Alliant Energy, SCE Kids)

Energy Glossary 1, Energy Glossary 2, Energy Glossary 3 (Advanced)

Renewable Energy Vocabulary Cards (Printable form)

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This communication reflects the
views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the

information contained therein.
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