The European Union (EU) countries aim to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, use more renewables and utilise energy more efficiently by 2020. Their goal is a 20% change in each of these three target areas.

Many critics of the EU’s energy package believe that the use of hydrocarbons such as oil, coal and gas should be to a greater extent phased out.

But the world needs energy, and both oil and gas will be important energy sources for many years to come, a prognosis which is shared by the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Replacing old coal-fired power stations with gas in the energy sector is one effective way of achieving big carbon dioxide (CO2) reductions. Statoil is the second largest supplier of gas to Europe. We are pushing for CO2 cuts in our activities and our products. And we are committed to renewable energy sources, including offshore wind power.