If all goes well, by 2050, the European Union might make those target emissions reductions currently bandied about -- 40%, 60%, even 80% -- seem modest. With the right decision making and investment strategy, Europe might be able to go totally green by then.

Governments must stop authorising the building of traditional generators such as coal-fired power plants, accelerate the phasing out of nuclear power, and instead support investment in efficient use of renewable sources, the experts say.

Investment in renewables is, as I mentioned the other day, growing worldwide. There's no reason a completely green economy in the near future shouldn't be a reasonable goal for European policymakers.  You know all those newly elected French Greens will be pushing for it...

(image from flickr user woodleywonderworks under a Creative Commons license)