Energy efficiency one of the top themes in the Baltic Sea Region Forum
"The best energy is unused energy" was heard by many in the 14th Baltic Sea Region Forum held in Turku 16 June. Phasing
out dependency on Russian energy, challenges of the transition period, new
alternatives for energy production and the need for increased cooperation in in
the Baltic Sea region were other themes.
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Like the rest of the Europe, the Baltic Sea region needs quickly to adapt to the changed energy market. Russia has been the EU’s largest importer of fossil fuels, and as energy imports from Russia declines due to sanctions, it leaves three alternatives for countries to choose: energy savings, renewable energy sources and importing fossil fuels from outside Europe. As continued dependency on fossil fuels is not a long-term option, it leaves only the first two alternatives. But fortunately, preparatory steps have already been taken. The EU has already started energy revolution by launching the European Green Deal in 2019. The EU Commission has also launched a plan in this May, REPowerEU, to rapidly reduce our dependency on Russian fossil fuels by fast forwarding the clean transition and joining forces to achieve a more resilient system. Many speakers affirmed that even without the push from the Russian war, the Green Deal has been taken seriously. In his opening speech, the Finnish MEP and former Minister of the Environment Ville Niinistö said that there is a historic merging of environmental, economic and security policies. He wanted to see more investments going to European renewable energy sources and warned also for overinvesting in transitional solutions, which locks us in for a long time in the future. This thought was also shared with the EU Energy Commissioner, Kadri Simson. She demanded for more political involvement in the Baltic Sea region for energy efficiency. Especially problematic in the Baltic Sea region is the extremely energy inefficient building stock.
Baltic Sea region cooperation as a key to success
Like many others in the seminar, Energy Commissar Kadri Simson also mentioned the great potential for renewables in the Baltic Sea region. Nordic and Baltic countries are ranked high with production and usage of renewables. Director Petri Vuorio from EK - Confederation of Finnish Industries pointed out that the Green Deal is not a threat but an opportunity from a company perspective. The Baltic Sea region is very well prepared for the Green Deal. The long tradition of cooperation is an advantage. Good examples of that are the Baltic offshore wind energy grid, Balticconnector gas pipeline or the most recent cooperation between Finland and Estonia with floating LNG terminal. During this rapid transition, small countries need to work together, share knowledge, create partnerships, and make joint investments. As Deputy Secretary General Timo Tatar from Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications put it, “together we stand, separate we fall”.
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What is the right question?
The coming winter can stretch the feeling of solidarity in the region. Head of the Power Project Aleksandra Gawlikowska-Fyk from Forum Energii, and Head of LNG Commerce Jurgita Šilinskaité-Venslovienè from Klaipeda LNG, both expressed their worry about the energy supply and pricing during the coming year. As the situation will first get very difficult until the accelerated measures will help, Gawlikowska-Fyk emphasized the need to help the weaker countries. Jurgita Šilinskaité-Venslovienè stressed the importance of diversification as means to balance fluctuations. The rising energy prices will inevitably affect all aspects of society. Public needs to understand how the Green Deal and REPowerEU touches ordinary people’s life. But people also need to be made aware that any slowdown in energy revolution comes with a cost. This is the message which was also strongly pointed out by MEP Sirpa Pietikäinen in her closing speech. She said that the question in politics is always “how do we manage the cost?”. But it is the wrong question. The right question is “What is the cost of non-action?”
In a situation where Russia has attacked in Ukraine, environmental issues can easily be set aside, to wait. But however tragic the war is, it will end someday. Environmental crisis, climate change, chemicalisation, biodiversity loss, will not end, and it can’t be negotiated. If we do not act now, what will be the cost then?.JPG)
