While the emphasis of European institutions is logically focused on managing the COVID-19 pandemic, the work of the European Parliament's Environment Committee (ENVI) on 'climate law' remains a priority, Jytte Guteland (S&D, Sweden), rapporteur for this issue, assured EUROPE on Wednesday 8 April.
“I got the support of the coordinators of the Environment Committee [ENVI] to keep the climate law a priority despite the current situation [...] It is still important that we deliver a climate law and show the world that the EU is not slowing down”, Ms Guteland told us, confirming our information (see EUROPE 12462/19).
Set out by the European Commission at the beginning of March, the 'climate law' consists of a European regulation establishing the framework under which the European Union can achieve climate neutrality by 2050 (see EUROPE 12439/2).
As a new legislative proposal, the text is currently being examined by co-legislators.
While legislative work on the dossier seems to be slowing down somewhat in the EU Council due to working conditions being made more difficult by containment measures, Ms Guteland is determined to maintain the pace foreseen in the European Parliament, in the hope that the legislation will be adopted before COP26, the postponement of which was recently announced (see EUROPE 12460/24).
“This pandemic is forcing us to work differently, but there is nothing that is hindering us to write a report, to have video meetings, to talk on the phone… It is exactly what I am doing every week as rapporteur on the climate law”, she assured. The timetable is as follows: presentation of the draft report to the ENVI Committee at the end of May with a vote in committee in July and then in plenary in September.
As proof that work is continuing, Ms Guteland and the shadow rapporteurs remotely discussed the 'climate law' with climate action service representatives from the European Commission (DG CLIMA) two days ago, according to information gathered by EUROPE.
During this exchange, the European Commission would have expressed its desire to make the 'climate law' the basis for a new start to exit the economic crisis that is looming as a result of the pandemic.
Finally, in respect of the EU's new 2030 target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, which will be enshrined in 'climate law' on the basis of an impact assessment currently being carried out by the Commission, Ms Guteland stressed that a 55% reduction “is the minimum target” for the European Parliament. Furthermore, “If there is something I would like to give as a signal to the EU Council is that they can, already now, prepare themselves for at least a 55% target”. (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)