Aiming for a 65% reduction in EU greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030, sector-specific roadmaps and an EU carbon budget are some of the proposed changes to the ‘climate law’ that European Parliament rapporteur Jytte Guteland (S&D, Sweden) will present to the Parliament Environment Committee (ENVI) on 27 May.
Target of -65% by 2030. As announced (see EUROPE 12476/23), Ms Guteland’s draft report, obtained by EUROPE, suggests raising the European GHG emission reduction target set for 2030 to -65% below the 1990 emission level (the current target is set at -40%).
This is a significant increase over what the Commission is expected to propose, namely a target of -50% or even -55%, depending on the results of its impact study scheduled for September (see EUROPE 12439/2).
Target of climate neutrality for each Member State. Regarding the 2050 target, the draft report suggests that “each Member State shall reach net zero emissions within its territory by 2050 at the latest”.
Contrary to the draft climate law, the objective of climate neutrality would no longer only concern the European Union as a whole, but also each individual Member State.
2040 goal. With regard to the setting of intermediate objectives (between 2030 and 2050), Ms Guteland rejects the Commission’s idea of using delegated acts (see EUROPE 12438/3).
Instead, she proposes that the Commission should explore the possibilities of setting a target for the Union by 2040 within a range of 80-85% emission reductions and present legislative proposals to the European Parliament and the EU Council by 30 September 2025 at the latest.
Sectoral roadmaps. In order to achieve climate neutrality, Ms Guteland wants each sector to draw up roadmaps for reducing its emissions to a level close to zero.
These “sectoral roadmaps” would be produced on the basis of a harmonised format and set of criteria to be established by the Commission by 30 June 2021 at the latest.
They would indicate the time frame for the sector to achieve zero emissions, identifying barriers and opportunities as well as the technological solutions that would need to be developed and the investments that would need to be made in the sector.
A European panel on climate change. Another proposal: the establishment of a “European panel on climate change” – EPCC) by 30 June 2021.
This would be an independent advisory group of scientists with expertise on climate change. It would serve a threefold purpose: (1) monitor GHG emission reductions in the EU and Member States taking into account the carbon budget of Union ; (2) assess the consistency of measures and progress towards achieving climate neutrality by 2050 and compliance with the Paris Agreement; (3) make recommendations where appropriate.
Each year, the panel would present a report on its findings to the Commission, the European Parliament and the EU Council.
A carbon budget. The final flagship proposal is that the Commission should present legislative proposals, by no later than 30 June 2021, to establish a carbon budget for the Union.
This budget would indicate the total amount of remaining GHG emissions for the EU economy, broken down by economic sector, that could be emitted without compromising the EU’s commitments under the Paris Agreement.
The Commission should take this budget into account when assessing which emission reduction paths to follow to achieve climate neutrality, says the draft report.
Finally, Ms Guteland is of the opinion that the Commission pay particular attention to the possibilities of reducing emissions from air and maritime traffic by presenting possible legislative proposals by June 2021.
The draft report is due to be debated in the ENVI Committee on 27 May. The Industry Committee and other Parliament committees such as Transport and Agriculture are expected to give their opinion on the draft by the end of May.
On the EU Council side, work on the ‘climate law’ has been slowed down because of Covid-19. After a first exchange on 13 March, the Member States’ experts are awaiting answers to a series of questions they have addressed to the Commission. These answers could be provided to them next week, according to information gathered by EUROPE.
To consult the draft report: https://bit.ly/2yGWMNl (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)