EU environment ministers have proposed a 2040 climate target that falls short of what is needed, while the range presented for the 2035 goal lacks "decisiveness", non-governmental organisations (NGOs) said.
NGO Greenpeace called for the bloc to respect advice by the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change for domestic greenhouse gas (GHG) cuts of 90-95pc by 2040.
EU environment ministers agreed today on a GHG emissions reduction for the bloc of 90pc by 2040, from 1990 levels. This includes the use of up to 5pc international carbon credits from 2036, which effectively corresponds to a domestic GHG cut of 85pc, as international credits would make up the remainder. Both EU states and the European Parliament will have to agree a final text for the 2040 climate target.
Ministers also approved a range of 66.25-72.5pc in GHG cuts by 2035, from the 1990 baseline, which sets the core of the bloc's climate plan, just ahead of the UN Cop 30 climate summit in Belem, Brazil.
"Cutting climate pollution by 90pc was never enough for the EU to make a fair contribution," said Greenpeace EU climate campaigner Thomas Gelin. He noted a much lower climate commitment for 2040 due to a revision clause for factors such as high energy prices, global competitiveness, progress towards the intermediate targets and technological advance.
The ministers' proposition for a 90pc GHG reduction by 2040 with the help of international credits rings "somewhat hollow" for Amelie Laurent, policy advisor at non-governmental Bellona. But she called on parliament to vote for the 90pc figure, although work needs to be done on strengthening the credibility of the target.
The effective weakening of the EU's 2040 target to 85pc, with up to 5pc of international carbon credits, and a one-year delay to the implementation of the emissions trading system for road transport, buildings and other sectors (ETS2), puts Europe's climate leadership at risk, said Federico Terreni, climate policy manager at NGO Transport & Environment. "The parliament needs to push back against the delay to ETS2 and maintain car CO2 standards," said Terreni.
Meanwhile, the 2035 goal, which forms the basis of the bloc's nationally determined contribution (NDC) — its climate plan — lacks "decisiveness" for climate think-tank E3G. It does not do justice to the broad agreement on the EU's domestic climate trajectory. But unanimous adoption by EU ministers of the ranged NDC would allow the EU to have a "stronger hand" at Cop 30, E3G added.
A tight vote in the environment committee is expected on 10 November with the largest centre-right EPP group holding a key position. The Czech draftsman Ondrej Knotek, a Czech member of the far-right Patriots For Europe group, has previously called for 2040 targets to be rejected. A final plenary vote, scheduled for 13 November, will pave the way for negotiations between parliament and EU states for the final legal text.
