What does your energy source mean to you? Perhaps more pertinently, what will it mean to your children? Air pollution and unpredictable fuel prices plague Europe - action must be taken. The European Union is working to bring change. Cooperatives like Ecopower exemplify the EU's switch from fossil and nuclear fuel to renewable energy. They help us realise the EU's pledge to cut greenhouse gases and create a coordinated Energy Union.

reduction of gas emissions

economic policy

climate change

Energy

Environment

Common goals: The Energy Union

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Air pollution and   over-reliance on fossil fuels

are problems that the EU has already  done a great deal to tackle.

In 2014, EU governments pledged  to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

They also promised to increase the share  of energy produced from renewable sources

And following 2015's historic Paris   Agreement on fighting climate change,

Europe's governments announced plans  to create a coordinated Energy Union,

to further reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

Here in Asse, just outside  the Belgian capital Brussels,

these wind turbines produce  enough energy to power 6000 homes.

The project is a cooperative,  co-owned and managed by local people.

The turbines cost  �10 million to build,

some of which came from  the EU's RESCoop programme.

the cooperative creates  a sense of community

that allows citizens to be more  involved in their energy future.

That's why the Energy Union is one of  the European Union's priorities for 2017.

The Parliament is pushing for  the swift adoption of a package of measures

called 'Clean Energy for All Europeans',

which will help the EU meet its Paris pledges  and complete the Energy Union.

More also needs to be done  to improve the EU's energy security

by reducing Europe's dependence  on imported energy.