Dive Brief:

• The European Union could soon bring in a new requirement for members to cut energy consumption by 27-30% by 2030 as compared to 1990 levels, according to Bloomberg.
• The energy savings goal makes up the third policy point of the E.U.'s new energy strategy, designed to cut emissions and save energy resources and money across 28 member states.
• Currently, E.U. members have a 20%-by-2020 energy consumption reduction target they are not likely to meet. A new policy to cut greenhouse gas emissions 40% by 2030 compared with 1990 levels has spurred a rethinking of the energy consumption policy.

Dive Insight:

The ambitious 40% by 2030 GHG emissions reduction target bears some similarity to Obama's EPA emissions reduction plan in that each member country comes up with its own plan for meeting the targets. According to sources, that will also be the case for an energy efficiency target. 

Fossil fuel and shale gas-rich member countries like Poland have already voiced their opposition to the policy, which is by Germany. The opposition are worried it may hurt their already inconstant economies. The decisions of the E.U. must be unanimous, which could mean the real target figure will be slightly lower than reported to appease these member states' concerns.