Tag: energy transition

Portugal’s Social Climate Plan: public consultation has begun

On By officialblogunioIn ReviewsLeave a comment 
Nataly Machado (PhD Candidate at the School of Law of the University of Minho, FCT research scholarship holder – 2023.04074.BD) and Cecília Pires (PhD Candidate at the School of Law of the University of Minho, FCT research scholarship holder – 2023.01072.BD)

As part of the Fit for 55 package –  the set of measures adopted by the European Union (EU) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 and to enable the goal of climate neutrality by 2050 – the EU Emissions Trading System II (ETS2) was created: a new emissions trading system, separate from the existing EU ETS, which will cover and address CO₂ emissions from fuel combustion in buildings, road transport, and additional sectors.[1]

According to calculations by the European Commission, more than 34 million people in the EU are already affected by energy poverty.[2] In 2023, one fifth of the resident population could not afford to keep their home adequately heated. Across the EU, this proportion reached its peak in Portugal and Spain (20.8%). In 2024, the proportion in Portugal decreased to 15.7%, but remained higher among the at-risk-of-poverty population (30.9%) and the elderly population (22%).[3]

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REPOWER EU – A challenge and an opportunity

On By revistaunioIn Essays1 Comment 
By Maria Barros Silva (Associate Lawyer at SRS Advogados – Energy and Competition Law) and Nuno Calaim Lourenço (Managing Associate at SRS Advogados – Energy and Competition Law)
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1. Context

The energy sector is cyclical by nature. History offers several examples of market expansion followed by very sudden contractions. Unfortunately, the current crisis differs from previous ones. To put things into dire perspective, the European Union (“EU”) heavily relies on fossil fuel (gas, oil and coal) imports for its energy needs, amounting to circa 60% of gross energy consumption in the past 5 years. The EU imports 90% of its gas, with Russia previously accounting for 45% of those imports, as well as for 25% of oil and 45% of coal. Although European domestic production of renewable energy sources has increased significantly in recent years, the intermittent nature of the so-called “green energy”, coupled with limited renewable-energy storage and a drastic and intransigent reduction in the production of EU coal, lignite and gas has meant that the EU remains energy dependent.

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