Brussels-based nuclear trade organisation Foratom has welcomed the European Commission’s proposal to increase its 2030 CO2 emission reduction target to at least 55%.
The Environment Committee of the European Parliament on 11 September voted to make climate neutrality obligatory by 2050 in both the European Union (EU) and member states and called for a more ambitious 2030 emissions reduction target.
The Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety adopted their report on the EU climate law with 46 votes for, 18 against and 17 abstentions.
The MEPs called for emissions to be reduced by 60% in 2030 compared with 1990, instead of “at least 50% towards 55%”, as the European Commission (EC) had proposed. They also want an interim target for 2040 to be proposed by the EC following an impact assessment, to ensure the EU is on track to reach its 2050 target.
MEPs called on the Commission to propose by 31 May 2023 a trajectory at EU level on how to reach carbon neutrality in 2050 through the ordinary decision-making procedure. The trajectory is to be reviewed after each stocktake at global level.
They also requested the EC to assess and propose amendments to all relevant EU legislation that contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. They want the Commission to issue a report every two years on the progress made by EU and member states towards achieving these climate targets. An independent scientific body should also be created to monitor progress.
The MEPs said both the EU and individual member states should be climate negative after 2050, meaning that they must remove more greenhouse gases than they emit. The EU and member states must also phase out all direct and indirect fossil fuel subsidies by 31 December 2025 at the latest, underlining the need to continue efforts to combat energy poverty.
Parliament rapporteur Jytte Guteland (Sweden) said: “The adoption of the report sends a clear message to the European Commission and the EU Council in light of the upcoming negotiations: we expect all Member States to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest and we need strong interim targets in 2030 and 2040 for the EU as well to achieve this.”
He added: “I’m also satisfied with the inclusion of a greenhouse gas budget, which sets out the total remaining quantity of greenhouse gas emissions as CO2 equivalent that could be emitted until 2050 at the latest, without putting at risk the Union’s commitments under the Paris Agreement.”
Parliament will vote on its first reading during the 5 - 8 October plenary session, after which it can begin negotiations with member states.
The EC in March 2020 proposed a European climate law that would make it a legal requirement for the EU to become climate-neutral by 2050. This follows the December 2019 European Council decision to endorse the 2050 climate-neutrality objective. The proposal is a central part of the European Green Deal unveiled by Commission President von der Leyen in a plenary debate in December.
The Parliament, which has long advocated an ambitious climate change policy, has played an important role in pushing for more ambitious EU climate legislation. It declared a climate emergency on 29 November 2019.
