The EU imports 50% of all its energy needs. With this level set to grow, the question of how the Union will satisfy its future energy demands was discussed at a hearing in the Parliament days before EU leaders debate the subject. The need for action is clear – an expert predicted that fossil fuel demand and CO2 emissions will rise by 50% in 25 years - jeopardising the stability of the earth’s climate. Those present agreed that climate change and energy security are two sides of the same coin.
Warning of “climate conflict”
Jennifer Morgan from an environmental think-tank in Berlin warned of the possibility of "climate conflict" and said that environmental stress and migratory threats were very real. On the importance of the issues Europe faces she warned that “climate change affects every EU policy, get it wrong and everything will go wrong for EU foreign policy".