In copy to
Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson
Executive Vice-President for the European
Green Deal, Interinstitutional Relations and
Foresight, Maroš Šefčovič
Commissioner for Internal Market, Thierry
Breton
Commissioner for Climate Action, Wopke
Hoekstra
Dear European Commission President von der Leyen,
We, sector organisations, NGOs and think tanks warn that the flawed decision to postpone the heat pump action plan will put the energy transition in heating at risk.
Previously, you correctly identified the heat pump sector as a key part of the EU’s move to greater energy independence under REPowerEU, and a critical net zero industry on the EU’s path to 2050.
Today, heating and cooling represents half of all energy consumed in Europe and produces about 38% of CO2 emissions. Decarbonising it fast is crucial to achieving climate neutrality.
Accordingly, your European Commission has been working intensively on a heat pump action plan that you were due to publish after the vote on the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, in the first quarter of 2024.
To help input, most of the under-signed organisations contributed to the European Commission’s public consultation on the heat pump action plan. Many of the undersigned organisations also developed an accelerator document on the ways to speed up heat pump roll-out, which we were pleased to hand over to EU Energy Commissioner Simson in June 2023.
However, in December 2023 we were unexpectedly informed that the publication of the action plan would be postponed to after the June 2024 EU elections. This is despite the significant progress already made on its contents and despite the need to get slowing pump sales back on track.
Throwing all these stakeholders into uncertainty by delaying the plan is exactly the opposite of what is needed. Long-term policy signals, and clarity about the shift from fossil fuels to sustainable heating are crucial to reassuring consumers, the sector and all segments of society, including the most vulnerable, to ensure the energy transition.
With the political balance of Europe on the verge of potentially significant change, we call upon the European Commission to choose determination and progress towards its own Green Deal over fear. We urge you not to tarnish your political legacy by undermining previous efforts towards the 2030 and 2050 climate and energy targets.
We urge the European Commission to publish the heat pump action plan without further delay so that we reach an energy independent, net zero Europe on time.
We would welcome the opportunity to meet with you for further discussions.
Yours sincerely,
