The Covid-19 outbreak has unleashed an unprecedented socio-economic global crisis, affecting all citizens and sectors. While the energy sector is subject to extreme pressure stemming from coronavirus, the gas value chain continues to deliver low emission energy to the European industries and millions of citizens on and off the grid. Thanks to its affordability and security of supply, gas remains a crucial solution during the current crisis, but also provides solutions for a sustainable economic recovery.
Thanks to its contributions to emissions reductions across sectors as well as quality job creation in Europe, combined with its affordability and reliability, gaseous energy has a key role to play in sustainable recovery packages aligned with the EU Green Deal objectives.
Therefore, GasNaturally, partnership of seven associations that together represent the whole European gas value chain (including NGVA Europe), urges the EU institutions and Member States to make natural, renewable and decarbonized gases as well as secure and affordable energy supply as a central pillar of the sustainable recovery plans. In particular, they highlight the strategic importance of several points, including:
• Decarbonizing transport. In 2017, 27% of total EU-28 greenhouse gas emissions came from the transport sector (22% if international aviation and maritime emissions are excluded). CO2 emissions from transport increased by 2.2% compared with 2016. Natural gas, decarbonized and renewable gases represent a quick and readily available way to complement efforts aimed at decarbonizing the transport and logistics sector. Recognizing their role within the sustainable recovery measures is the best way to ensure a swift restart of a safe, secure, and efficient system which supports European citizens’ mobility and companies’ logistics.
Source: GasNaturally
