ESRC Society Today

The political crisis between Russia and Ukraine in December 2005 over the cost of natural gas proved a salutary wake-up call. The halting of gas supplies to Ukraine and the concomitant cuts in output in mainland Europe - as much as 50 per cent in one day - exposed the EU's over-dependence on Russia and the Kremlin-controlled company Gazprom.

In response, there have been renewed calls for a EU common energy policy. The ambitious EU energy plan announced by Tony Blair at the EU Summit at Hampton Court in October has been endorsed by Andris Piebalgs, the EU energy commissioner, and Angela Merkel, German Chancellor. The plan would include a pan-EU electricity grid, shared reserves of stored gas and coordinated investment in alternative energy sources. 

France, Germany and the Benelux countries have started talks on creating a single energy market. The five countries will agree to share energy in times of short supply.

A new Green Paper on A Secure, Competitive and Sustainable Energy Policy for Europe will be discussed at the EU leaders’ summit in March. The aim is to have the outlines of a common policy in place by the end of 2006. The draft paper says the EU will have to put energy security at the heart of its foreign relations, using its aid and trade policy to avoid greater dependence on Russia.

The landmark Kyoto Protocol came into effect on February 16 2005 for all industrialised countries except the United States and Australia. There have already been some encouraging results of having an official agreement in place between nations: 

• The 25 countries of the European Union launched a multibillion-dollar Emissions Trading Scheme in January 2005
• France announced details of a plan to triple its biofuel output
• Japan has set industry and fossil fuel taxes
• Canada is advancing a domestic emissions trading programme
• China and India, regarded as essential to any long-term climate solution, have incorporated climate actions into energy and development policies, spurred considerably by the process
• Brazil has avoided 574 million metric tonnes of CO2 emission and saved over $100 billion with an aggressive biofuels program based on sugar cane