DRAFT recommendations Energy & Sustainability – BSPYF’24

HowcantheBalticSeaRegionenhanceitsenergyindependencewhileensuringsustainabilityandreducingcarbonemissions?Policyrecommendations/proposalsbytheBalticSeaParliamentaryYouthForumgrouponsustainablesolutionsforenergyindependence.Alongwithsomeadditionalinformation.Proposalno.1Inregionalenergyconsumption,acceleratethefullphase-outprocessofbiomassandfossilfuels,startingwithnon-EUsourcessuchastheRussianFederation,continuingonaNationallevel.Concurrently,allocateresourcescollectivelytowardsfortificationandmodernisationoftheregionalpowergrid,prioritisingsustainableenergysourcessuchaswind,hydro,solar,geothermalandgreenhydrogen.Whatcanbepulledoutofthisasseparatepoints,ifrequired:●Phase-outoffossilandbiomassandinvestinsustainableenergy●Modernisationofthepowergrid.Keyword:buildingresilience!●Diversifyenergysources.E.g.,solarpowerforsummer,windpowerforwinter.Proposalno.2EstablishformalNationalYouthAdvisoryBodiesforenergyindependenceandsustainabilityundertheMinistryofEnergyorequivalentgovernmentalagencyforeachBSPCparliament.Ensurecontinuityandproactivedialoguebetweenpolicymakers,youth,activists,up-comingscientistsandvulnerablecommunitymembersrecognizingthatthegreentransitionisachallengethatwillimpacteverysectorofoureconomies,affectdiversecommunities,andshapeourcollectivefuture.Provideaplatformfortheirvoicestobeheardandincludedinthedevelopmentofclimate,energy,andeconomicpolicies.Quitestraight-forwardandtothepoint.Thethoughtisthatintheeventoftherealreadybeingasub-unitofsuchkind,letssay,inanationalyouthcouncil-consultingitgetsputintotheministry’sworkplanformally(and,regularly!)Additionalproposals,forfurtherdiscussion:Proposalno.3WeurgetheparliamentsoftheBalticSeatoprioritizeaJustTransitionbyworkingtogethertolowerenergyprices,buildtrustininstitutions,andsupportfragilecommunities.Additionally,itiscrucialtoprovidestrongsupportforindustryworkerswhosejobsmaybeatriskduetothegreentransition,ensuringthatnooneisleftbehindaswemovetowardamoresustainablefuture.Thisisseeminglyalreadyconnectedtoproposals1&2,makingthisanumbrellaproposal.Thisisaback-upifwecompletelyre-thinkthecurrentlysetrecommendations.Suggestionsforrecommendationtopics:Thosehighlightedingreenhavebeenimplementedinthepreviousproposals.PhaseOutofFossilFuelsandBiomass●Phaseoutfossilfuelandbiomassimports:Memberstatesshallcommittophasingoutallfossilfuelandbiomassimports,particularlyfromnon-EUcountriessuchasRussia.Thisstepiscrucialtoreducedependencyonvolatileenergymarketsandacceleratethetransitiontocleanenergysources.●Accelerateddevelopmentofrenewableenergysources:Governmentsshallprioritiseinvestmentsinwind,hydro,solar,geothermal,andgreenhydrogenpowergeneration.Thisincludessupportingresearchanddevelopment,streamliningpermittingprocesses,andprovidingfinancialincentivesforrenewableenergyprojects.●Phasingoutfossilfuelsubsidies:Memberstatesshallgraduallyeliminatesubsidiesforfossilfuelsandredirectthesefundstowardssupportingrenewableenergyinitiativesandenergyefficiencyprograms.EnhancingEnergyResilience●Modernizationofthepowergrid:Investmentsingridinfrastructureareessentialtoaccommodatetheincreasingintegrationofrenewableenergysources.Memberstatesshallcollaborateondevelopingaregionalsmartgridcapableofbalancingsupplyanddemand,optimizingenergydistribution,andenablingtheintegrationofenergystoragetechnologies.●Promotionofenergyself-sufficiency:Theregionshouldstriveforgreaterenergyself-sufficiencybymaximizingthepotentialoflocalrenewableresources.Thisincludessupportingcommunity-ownedenergyprojectsandpromotingenergyefficiencymeasures.●Regionalinterconnectivity:StrengtheningenergyconnectionsbetweenBalticSeacountrieswillenhancegridstability,facilitatetheexchangeofrenewableenergy,andreducetheriskofsupplydisruptions.Memberstatesshallcooperateondevelopingarobustandinterconnectedregionalelectricitymarket.ImplementationandCooperation●Jointactionplan:TheBalticSearegioncountriesshalldevelopajointactionplanoutliningspecifictargets,timelines,andmeasuresforimplementingtheproposedenergytransition.●Financialsupport:Memberstatesshouldexploreopportunitiesforjointfundingofrenewableenergyprojects,researchanddevelopmentinitiatives,andgridinfrastructureupgrades.●Knowledgesharingandcapacitybuilding:Regularexchangeofbestpractices,expertise,andtechnologicaladvancementsisessentialforsuccessfulimplementation.Theregionshouldestablishplatformsforknowledgesharingandcapacitybuildingamongstakeholders.●Internationalcooperation:TheBalticSearegionshouldactivelyengagewiththeEUandotherinternationalpartnerstopromotethedevelopmentofcleanenergytechnologies,policies,andmarkets.CommonpointsfromtheBSPYFapplicationrecommendations:●Promotecommunity-ownedenergyprojects●Engageinpublicdialoguetoraiseawareness●Reducetheenergywaste●Monitoringenergyintensiveindustriesandoptimizingconsumptioninpublicplaces●Research&innovation,collaboration,exchangeininformation●Cross-borderenergycooperationAdditionalsuggestedreadingmaterial:TheroleofYouthintheFutureoftheEuropeanEnergyTransitionPositionPaper2022HighLevelEnergySecurityMeeting2024Declaration(EnergyMinistersoftheBalticSea)WWFandCCBGuidlinesforplanningOffshoreRenewableEnergyintheBalticSea