European climate leadership is not (only) about leaders

Over the past years, Europe has become widely recognised as the driving force behind global climate action. This is thanks, first and foremost, to public opinion among European citizens who are highly sensitive the risk of climate change and overwhelmingly demand concrete solutions. Public support has translated into ambitious European climate policies as well as European diplomacy which pushes and promotes a sustainable transition all across the world.

But perhaps the most important part of Europe's sustainable revolution is happening further away from the limelights; in cities and incubators, in tech giants or newly-born start-ups, sometimes they even start in a garage…

Indeed, European leadership in #cleantech, sustainable energy, and renewables is owed to brilliant innovators all across the continent who dared to think differently, to challenge the common knowledge, and to jump ahead of the technological curve. By paying public attention to success stories, we can ensure best practices spill over from one region to another, from one EU country to another, and eventually to the rest of the world. That is why I insist on seeing such projects when I visit the Member States along my second Energy Union Tour.

First and foremost, we are talking about startups and local entrepreneurs. One spectacular example I visited recently was Veniam, a Portuguese startup which developed a system for transmitting massive amount of data among vehicles. Why? Because self-driving cars are expected to reduce the car traffic but significantly increase data traffic! The technology is already used in the city of Porto where cars, buses, and trucks are already 'communicating' among themselves.

Smart Cities

Of course, there is no sense in developing new technologies for public services if they are not picked up by public authorities. The Slovak city of Ko?ice was a front runner in integrating implementing smart solutions in the field of transport such as e-buses, e-trams and mobile transport applications. 

Vilnius took it a step further, integrating a wide range of smart services into an integrated e-residency. In the Lithuanian capital you can now buy your transport and parking tickets on your mobile phone, report a problem to the authorities, and even actively participate in the city's political life (through polls, e-petitions, and even voting). Many more European cities are constantly redefining the term 'smart cities' by digitising their services to an unrecognisable level.

Of course public financing can often be a major problem. That is why we must not only look for smart solutions but also for smart financing. As part of the European Fund for Strategic Investment, The French region of ?le de France successfully secured a long-term loan at a low rate for renovating up to 10,000 (!!) apartments (the original loan was 100€ million but it can be leveraged to raise up to 300€ million more). This will allow the residents to live more comfortably and reduce their energy bills by up to 70%. But the best part is that they will pay back the loan with their energy savings. This is therefore a sustainable investment in a sustainable project; it allows leveraging public funds without extinguishing them.

Power to the people

The mounting demand for clean energy by European consumers requires breaking the existing axioms and challenging the common wisdom. Take for example the North Sea; for generations it was considered as an infrastructure barrier until we realised it was actually a great energy source!

The North Sea Power Hub, an artificial island with thousands of wind turbines around it which is being built in the heart of the North Sea. Once completed, it could provide clean energy to 80 million Europeans in six different countries. The project sounds and looks like science fiction but it is actually science facts and soon a reality on the ground, that is, on the sea.

In some cases, the change is even more grassroots-driven. Residents of the Dutch city of Breda were eager enough to switch to renewable energy that they went ahead and created a resident-owned energy cooperative to produce their own energy. This will definitely push forward the city's ambition to become CO2 neutral by 2044.

As you can see, green technological breakthroughs can be found all across Europe. But this change is possible thanks to Europe's psychological breakthrough; recognising the imminent risk of climate change and at the same time the tremendous opportunities of leading the energy transition.

It is this unique combination of progressive and innovative thinking, popular support, and responsible leadership– which makes me believe that Europe can and will lead the global energy transition.