in the Finnish chemical industry - Kemia-lehti

The EU’s newclimate andenergy policyframework willbe critical forthe chemicalindustry’s competitiveness.ScanstockphotoEU’s climate and energy policySignificant changesneededA strong chemical industry is needed during the transition towards a low carbon economy.This is critical to remember now when the EU is preparing its new framework for climateand energy policies. A new policy framework must be designed so that the outcome isenvironmentally effective and sustainable, but also economically and socially sustainable.Sami NikanderIt is clear that significant changes areneeded in the EU’s present climate andenergy policy framework.For instance, there has been aglobal revolution of the energy marketfollowing the shale gas boom in the US.This has put fossil energy prices into adownward trend instead of an upwardtrend as previously believed. It shouldalso be remembered that energy prices inAsia are traditionally much lower levelthan in Finland.When setting climate targets realismis also needed. This is very much on theagenda now, while the preparations forthe 2015 negotiations are on-going.The unexpected economic crisis haslimited the EU’s ability to shoulderunilateral policy costs, whereas a globalclimate policy agreement has yet toemerge. Setting unilateral targets forEurope has proven ineffective whendealing with a global problem such asclimate change.While the EU countries have reduceddirect emissions from industrialinstallations, global emissions haverisen exponentially. If unrevised, theEU climate policy rewards exportingemissions together with production andjobs. It is necessary to continue withCO 2-reductions, but with a perspectiveof growth for efficient installations andnew investments.The chemical industry is exposedto global competition, so it is stronglyaffected by events and developmentsaround the world.From the chemical industry’s point18 KEMIA 5/2013