Strengthening EU Environmental Law:
Legal Perspectives on Greening Europe
EU Energy Efficiency Law – opportunities and barriers
Energy efficiency law is primarily characterised by EU requirements. The overarching Energy Efficiency Directive of 2012 in the new version of 2023 sets general targets and obligations. In addition, there are directives on standards and the energy-efficient refurbishment of existing and new buildings, the topics of heating and cooling with the increased use of heat pumps, cogeneration and, last but not least, the area of sustainable products with the new upcoming Ecodesign Regulation. Efficiency targets must also be met in the mobility sector. All of this must be financed somehow. At national level, the German example of the Building Energy Act, with its obligation to install energy-efficient and renewable energy-based heating systems, has caused a massive political uproar. Many owners are unsettled by these numerous and complex European and national obligations. However, there is no alternative to improving energy efficiency. The lecture will address all of these topics, provide an overview in the context of the sustainability goals of efficiency, consistency and sufficiency, give further insight to selected topics, and will discuss ideas for new instruments.
Speaker
Prof. Dr. Thomas Schomerus
Prof. Dr. Thomas Schomerus has a chair for energy and environmental law at Leuphana University Lüneburg and was a judge at the Higher Administrative Court of Lüneburg till 2021 when he was elected member of the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee (ACCC). He has worked on various research projects on the topics of resource protection, mining, renewable energy and energy efficiency and information law and has published over 300 books and articles.
Environmental Law Lecture Series
This lecture is part of the Environmental Law Lecture Series: Strengthening EU Environmental Law, Legal Perspectives on Greening Europe series. This series provides a set of important insights from environmental law scholars on how EU environmental law helps to achieve the aim of a high level of environmental protection in the European Union and across the world.
With the European Green Deal from 11 December 2019 the European Commission tabled an ambitious legislative program, based on fundamental aims such as zero pollution, do no harm, and climate neutrality. Many legal developments took place and are still ongoing, both at the European and national regulatory levels as in the courtroom, including the national courts. While efforts to protect the environment are direly needed, including effective implementation and enforcement, the regulatory acquis, and the flow of case law, has become utterly complex which poses challenges for acquiring a good understanding and application.
This freely accessible online (and hybrid) lecture series provides students and scholars with core insights into the state of affairs and further improvement of EU environmental law. The lecture series will run in 2023 and 2024. All lectures will be recorded and will be made accessible through our YouTube channel.
This GreenDeal-Net lecture series is hosted by MCEL, METRO and organised in cooperation with GLaw-Net and GreenDeal-NET. Maastricht University students will be eligible for certificates of attendance (see more information under the registration link).