<s>[INST] The next text is a question of a member of the European parliament:"The very cold weather affecting Europe is a reminder of a crucial issue in our future energy policy: security of supply. Developments related to climate change, the abandonment of nuclear power in some countries and the increase in our energy needs raise the issue of the central role which gas will play. It is one of the only energy resources capable of meeting the three aims that the European Union has set itself as part of its energy policy: security, competitiveness and sustainability.  These developments teach us above all that it is unrealistic to focus exclusively on long-term objectives (2050). Of course, we must find solutions for meeting these goals but they should not let us forget that it is now that we need more energy. Initiatives for renewable energies which this long-term view places in the forefront are commendable. However, technical limitations to the energy they supply, the time that it takes to install them and their high costs, which are likely to penalise consumers, means that we must combine them with other conventional sources of energy.  Gas fits perfectly into a strategy of sustainable, secure and competitive supply such as this, and does not stand in the way of the technological and political developments that are needed in renewable energies. Thanks to new technologies, such as Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), it may also have a role to play in a low carbon economy. The Commission, in its energy road map for 2050, also believes that gas will play a key role in the development of Europe’s energy mix.  The recently-discovered large gas fields (such as those in Absheron in Azerbaijan), and the flexibility provided by natural liquefied gas, give us reason to suppose that gas will remain a reliable source of energy for a considerable period to come.   However, it would appear that gas is essentially conceived as a tool that enables transition to renewable energies. By 2050, the Commission believes that these should be at the heart of Europe’s energy mix.  In the current context outlined above, the citizens of Europe expect clear and quantified answers from the Commission: will an energy mix mainly composed of renewable energies be sufficient, in the medium and long term, to meet the growing needs of consumers, to cope with peak consumption and to do so at a reasonable cost?"
Analyze carefully the text and assign it to the most relevant policy area among those listed below. Do not explain your answer and return only a number.
Policy area numbers: 1 = Macroeconomics
2 = Civil Rights, Minority Issues and Civil Liberties
3 = Health
4 = Agriculture and Fisheries
5 = Labour, employment and pensions
6 = Education
7 = Environment
8 = Energy
9 = Immigration
10 = Transportation
12 = Law and Crime
13 = Social welfare
14 = Regional and Urban issues and Planning
15 = Banking, finance and domestic commerce issues
16 = Defence
17 = Space, science, technology, and communications issues
18 = Foreign trade
19 = International affairs and foreign aid
20 = Governance and government
21 = Public Lands, Water Management and Territorial Issues
23 = Culture and media
[/INST]. Answer = [8]. </s>
The very cold weather affecting Europe is a reminder of a crucial issue in our future energy policy: security of supply. Developments related to climate change, the abandonment of nuclear power in some countries and the increase in our energy needs raise the issue of the central role which gas will play. It is one of the only energy resources capable of meeting the three aims that the European Union has set itself as part of its energy policy: security, competitiveness and sustainability.  These developments teach us above all that it is unrealistic to focus exclusively on long-term objectives (2050). Of course, we must find solutions for meeting these goals but they should not let us forget that it is now that we need more energy. Initiatives for renewable energies which this long-term view places in the forefront are commendable. However, technical limitations to the energy they supply, the time that it takes to install them and their high costs, which are likely to penalise consumers, means that we must combine them with other conventional sources of energy.  Gas fits perfectly into a strategy of sustainable, secure and competitive supply such as this, and does not stand in the way of the technological and political developments that are needed in renewable energies. Thanks to new technologies, such as Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), it may also have a role to play in a low carbon economy. The Commission, in its energy road map for 2050, also believes that gas will play a key role in the development of Europe’s energy mix.  The recently-discovered large gas fields (such as those in Absheron in Azerbaijan), and the flexibility provided by natural liquefied gas, give us reason to suppose that gas will remain a reliable source of energy for a considerable period to come.   However, it would appear that gas is essentially conceived as a tool that enables transition to renewable energies. By 2050, the Commission believes that these should be at the heart of Europe’s energy mix.  In the current context outlined above, the citizens of Europe expect clear and quantified answers from the Commission: will an energy mix mainly composed of renewable energies be sufficient, in the medium and long term, to meet the growing needs of consumers, to cope with peak consumption and to do so at a reasonable cost?