No mention of climate neutrality by 2050 and zero net emissions: NGOs expressed their disappointment with the conclusions adopted on Friday 22 March by EU leaders on the EU's future long-term strategy - the one it will need to adopt in 2020 to make the European economy climate-neutral while preserving the specificity of EU countries and their industries (see EUROPE 12220/4).
The WWF and Greenpeace, who had hoped to see the IPCC's special report on the impact of an average global warming of 1.5 degrees C and the massive mobilization of young people for climate (see EUROPE 12215/12) taken into account, were left wanting, as were the ministers of the most climate ambitious countries.
Germany was singled out. “Once again, Heads of State have given citizens and scientists the cold shoulder on climate action. They adopted conclusions today which are meaningless. Without a fixed timeline for reaching net zero greenhouse emissions in the EU - 2050, or ideally 2040 - this agreement is just words on a page”, said Ester Asin, director of WWF's European Policy Office.
He condemned the fact that “Germany, a formerly progressive country on climate, is palling up with the likes of Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia to oppose the greater ambition that France, Spain, Luxembourg and others want”.
Call for a firm course of action in June. Believing that this cannot continue, the WWF calls on European leaders to set a firm course for climate at the European Council in June, “for the sake of the climate, for citizens, and for their own legacy”.
In the same vein, Greenpeace in particular regrets that Germany supported Poland in its refusal to support a 2050 target and to link EU climate action to a target of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees C.
“European governments are kicking the can down the road on climate change, but scientists have made it very clear that we’re running out of road and heading for a cliff edge. Young people get this. The leaders of Germany and other reluctant governments have no excuse. They must act now”, commented Sebastian Mang from Greenpeace's European office. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)