Climate Policy Engagement Analysis
Climate Lobbying Overview: Équilibre des Énergies (EdEn) is actively engaged with climate policy streams in the EU in 2021-23. The industry association broadly supports urgent climate action in its top-line messaging, but takes more nuanced positions on specific climate regulations. EdEn expressed broad support for energy efficiency policies, but seemed to engage with more negative positions on renewable energy and energy transition regulations.
Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: Équilibre des Énergies (EdEn) strongly advocates for urgent emissions reductions in its top-line messaging. In its 2022 Activities report, published in June 2023, the association supported France and the EU climate neutrality targets by 2050. In the same report, the industry group also supported the EU's Fit for 55 package, calling policymakers to provide solutions for decarbonizing industry and the energy mix in the EU. InfluenceMap has not detected a position on the Paris Agreement, between 2021-23.
Engagement with Climate-Related Regulations: Équilibre des Énergies (EdEn) adopts high-level supportive positions on key EU climate regulations, however with more nuanced positions expressed in public consultations. In a July 2021 open letter to the French government, EdEn President, Brice Lalonde, called for the French Presidency of the EU term to prioritize “defining frameworks for carbon adjustment at borders”. In a February 2021 Public Consultation response, EdEn broadly supported the EU ETS reform proposal, through higher targets, rebasing the cap, and allocating fewer free allowances.
Équilibre des Énergies appears to support energy efficiency legislation, with some exceptions. In its 2022 Activities report, published in June 2023, EdEn supported the French legislation “Mon Accompagnateur Renov” to help accelerate building renovation. In a June 2021 Public Consultation response on the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, EdEn also supported more ambitious provisions, supporting Minimum Energy Performance Standards, advocating for a more stringent definition of Nearly-Zero Emissions Buildings, and a phase-out of fossil fuels in heating and cooling systems. However, in a March 2022 feedback to EU policymakers, the industry group seemed to advocate for a weakening of the definition of Net Zero Buildings by including low-carbon energy.
In a November 2021 comment to EU policymakers on the Renewable Energy Directive, EdEn appeared to advocate for the inclusion of low-carbon fuels in the policy’s targets, specifically for nuclear energy and low-carbon hydrogen. The industry group supported the French Public Finance Law to ramp up renewable energy generation alongside nuclear, in its 2022 Activities report, published in June 2023. In April 2021, Équilibre des Énergies supported the EU 2030 target for GHG emissions reductions, according to the news outlet EuroTribune. In its flagship magazine from June 2023, EdEn stated support for the EU’s 2035 zero emissions CO2 target for light duty-vehicle, however, it advocated for a phase-out date by 2040 in its Public Consultation response from February 2021.
Positioning on Energy Transition: Équilibre des Énergies (EdEn) appears to support the transition of the energy mix with exceptions. In a press release from January 2022, the industry group supported the inclusion of nuclear in the EU Green Taxonomy but advocated for the technology to be acknowledged in transport and building legislation as well, and for "all forms of low carbon electricity to be treated equally". EdEn also supported the use of low-carbon fuels in aviation, however with some ambiguity about the “sustainability criteria”, in an April 2023 comment from its President, Brice Lalonde. In a March 2023 comment, EdEn president also supported low-carbon hydrogen with no mention ofClick here to enter text. the need for Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies.