Last month, the European Environment Agency (EEA) published a report saying that EU countries are on track to meet their 2020 targets for renewable energy and emissions cuts but could fall short of “ambitious longer-term goals”.

EEA executive director Hans Bruyninckx said: “The EU’s 2020 targets on energy and climate are now well within reach, but certain trends are alarming, in particular for transport. In that sector, renewable-energy use remains insufficient, and ‘greenhouse-gas’ emissions are rising again.”

The EU’s 2020 target is for 20% of ‘gross final energy’ consumption to come from renewable sources. Energy consumption and CO2 emissions grew slightly in 2015, but the increase came after “an exceptionally warm winter” the previous year, which led to lower energy demand for heating, the report says.

It also claims that the EU is well on its way to meeting its target of reducing energy consumption by 13% compared to 2005 levels (preliminary data showed that consumption was 11% lower).

Under the Paris climate deal signed almost a year ago, the EU plans to make renewable energy account for 27% of energy use by 2030 and to cut emissions by 40% compared to 1990 levels.

Meeting the 2030 target for renewable energy would “require additional efforts, because regulatory changes affect investors’ confidence in renewables, while market barriers persist,” the report says.