19 December 2023

New commitments put almost half of EU power sector en route to being fossil-free by 2035

BERLIN, 19 DECEMBER 2023 – The collective commitment announced yesterday by Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, and Switzerland to decarbonise their electricity systems by 2035 marks a momentous stride. Bolstered by today’s announcement that Lithuania [1] has passed a law committing to 100 percent renewable electricity by 2030, this agreement [2], forged under the umbrella of the Pentalateral Energy Forum, solidifies the convergence around 2035 as the critical date for achieving fossil-free power in Europe.

Beyond Fossil Fuels Campaigner Tara Connolly said: “These commitments show consensus is building for a fossil-free European power sector by 2035 – as strongly emphasised by the International Energy Agency’s 1.5 degree Celsius-compatible global energy scenario. All other European countries should follow suit and commit to phasing out coal and gas from their power sectors by 2035. Enhancing grids and expanding wind and solar deployment are crucial to ensure the energy transition is as sustainable, fair and smooth as possible.“

Today’s commitments echo the momentum established last year when the G7 countries pledged to “predominantly” decarbonise their electricity sectors by 2035 [3], and underscores the emergence of 2035 as the curtain call for fossil fuels in Europe’s power sector. 

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Contacts:

Alastair Clewer, Senior Communications Manager, Beyond Fossil Fuel, alastair.clewer@bff.earth, +49 176 433 07 185

Tara Connolly, Campaigner, Beyond Fossil Fuels, tara.connolly@bff.earth  +32 477 790 416

Notes:

1. https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/verslas/4/2153830/seimas-iteisino-grynaji-atsiskaityma-nebuitiniams-vartotojams-issprende-antikonstitucisku-pripazinta-2-gw-apribojima-saules-elektrinems
2. https://www.government.nl/latest/news/2023/12/18/group-of-european-countries-aim-to-decarbonize-their-electricity-system-by-2035
3. https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en/market-insights/latest-news/energy-transition/052722-g7-nations-agree-to-decarbonize-power-sectors-by-2035
4. The IEA’s 1.5C-compatible global energy scenario strongly recommends that advanced economies achieve this milestone by 2035: https://ember-climate.org/insights/research/new-generation/
5. The IEA’s Net Zero Roadmap: https://www.iea.org/reports/net-zero-roadmap-a-global-pathway-to-keep-the-15-0c-goal-in-reach

About: 

Beyond Fossil Fuels is a collective civil society campaign committed to ensuring all of Europe’s electricity is generated from fossil-free, renewable energy by 2035. It expands and builds upon the Europe Beyond Coal campaign, and its goal of a coal-free Europe in power and heat by 2030 at the latest. www.beyondfossilfuels.org