On Tuesday 17 April, the European Parliament in Strasbourg opened the road to a contribution by forestry and farming activities to the EU climate objectives for the period 2021-2030 with a view to implementing the Paris climate agreement.
MEPs endorsed the provisional interinstitutional agreement reached in December 2017 on the so-called Lulucf regulation (land use, land-use change and forestry) which aims to ensure that emissions/absorption of CO2 emissions are compatible and balanced in the sector (see EUROPE 11926).
Farming and forestry are part of the sectors not covered by the EU emissions trading system (ETS), which contribute 60% of EU greenhouse gas emissions. These sectors outside ETS should reduce their emissions by 30% by 2030 compared to 2005.
“We are sending a strong signal so that sustainable forestry management can be continued”, said Norbert Lins (EPP, Germany), rapporteur on the dossier. He also underlined that much of the work remained to be done on the delegated acts arising from the agreement.
According to the text approved, member states should guarantee a balance is struck between emissions and absorption of CO2 by forests, cultivated land and pastureland over two periods (2021-2025 and 2026-2030). Given that they are able to absorb a great deal of carbon, wetlands are included in the emissions accounting rules and may be taken into account as of 2026. If absorption exceeds emissions during the same period, the credit may be placed in reserve and used during the second period.
“Forests absorb over 32% of greenhouse gases. They have enormous mitigation potential”, Commissioner for Climate Action Miguel Arias Cañete had commented during the debate before the vote. In his view, the framework fixed by the regulation will allow forests to play their role as a carbon sink.
The final vote by Parliament on this draft regulation was on the same day as that on the regulation relating to effort-sharing between member states in the non-ETS sectors for the period 2021-2030, which is now called the regulation on climate action (see EUROPE 12003). Both regulations will be able to be formally adopted by the Council. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)