日本福島(Fukushima)的可怕災難標志著2011年成為歐洲(尤其是德國)能源辯論急劇轉向的一年。歐盟委員會(European Commission)迅速啟動了對歐盟143座反應堆的壓力測試，而德國修訂了之前延長壽命的政策，并決定在2022年之前逐步停止使用核能。除了福島的災難之外，日本的海嘯還損失了7千兆瓦的燃煤電廠和相關的港口基礎設施，這提醒各國政府，擁有一個強大的電力系統(tǒng)和備用能力是多么重要。隨著間歇性可再生能源在歐盟電力供應中的比重越來越大，可靠容量、備份和電網服務的需求必須成為確保供應安全的優(yōu)先事項(見第4頁)。隨著全球能源消耗的增加，化石燃料燃燒產生的二氧化碳排放量也在增加。據國際能源署估計，2010年的排放量為306億噸。歐盟委員會(European Commission)的能源政策以未來幾年實現一定的減排為基礎，并假設世界其他國家將效仿。然而，證據很明顯:世界其它地區(qū)沒有效仿。自1990年《京都議定書》基準年以來，全球二氧化碳排放量大幅增長了46%，歐盟所占份額相對較小，僅為12%。雖然我們歡迎一項針對氣候目標的能源政策，但我們必須確保委員會在其通訊和立法提案中適當反映煤炭的重要作用。煤炭是歐盟發(fā)電的第一大燃料，也是我們最經濟、最安全的電力來源。歐洲有能力通過發(fā)展技術、建立良好的做法和作出現實的能源政策決定來樹立良好的榜樣。如果我們足夠成功地維持我們強大的工業(yè)基礎，由一個強大的能源系統(tǒng)提供動力，那么世界上的其他地區(qū)可能會受到鼓舞。

The terrible disaster at Fukushima in Japan marked 2011 as  a  year  when the energy debate in Europe, especially  in  Germany,  took  a  sharp  turn. The European Commission swiftly initiated stress tests on the EU’s 143 reactors whilst Germany revised  its former  policy  of  life-time  extension and decided to phase out its use of nuclear power by 2022. Beyond the disaster at Fukushima, 7 GW of coal-fired power plants and related port infrastructure were lost to the Japanese tsunami and reminded governments everywhere of just how important it is to have a robust power system with reserve capacities. As intermittent renewables grow to account for more of  EU electricity supply, the need for reliable capacity, backup and grid services must become a priority to ensure security of supply (see page 4).

Along with global energy consumption, CO2 emissions from fossil-fuel combustion have grown. In 2010, emissions are estimated by the International Energy Agency to have been 30.6 billion tonnes. The European Commission bases its energy policy on achieving certain emission reductions over the coming years, and assumes that the rest of the world will follow. However, the evidence is clear: the rest of the world is not following. Global CO2 emissions have grown by a massive 46% since the 1990 baseline year of the Kyoto Protocol and, at 12%, the EU’s share is relatively small. Whilst we welcome an energy policy that addresses climate objectives, we must ensure that the Commission properly reflects the important role of coal    in its communications and legislative proposals. Coal is the No.1 fuel for electricity generation in the EU and remains our most economic and secure source of electricity.

Europe has the capacity to set a good example by developing technology, establishing good practices and taking realistic energy policy decisions. If   we are successful enough to  maintain our  strong industrial base, powered  by a robust energy system, then other regions of the world might be inspired to follow.