European Parliament supports raising EU’s carbon sink ambitions by 2030

The European Parliament approved by a large majority (472 votes in favour, 124 against and 22 abstentions) on Wednesday 8 June its position amending the proposal to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and enhance natural carbon sequestration in the land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector.

In mid-July 2021, as part of the first part of the 'Fit for 55' package, the Commission presented a proposal to encourage Member States to increase and improve their natural carbon sinks with the aim of achieving net carbon removals of -310 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in the Union by 2030 and climate neutrality in the LULUCF sector by 2035 (see EUROPE 12762/4).

Taking up the draft report by Ville Niinistö (Greens/EFA, Finland) (EUROPE 12954/5), MEPs support the Commission’s proposal that the EU target for net CO₂ removals in the LULUCF sector by 2030 should be increased to “at least 310 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent”.

Such a target would de facto increase the EU’s GHG emission reduction target to 57%. The contribution of net removals to the 55% GHG reduction target by 2030 (compared to 1990 levels) is indeed limited to 225 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent in the European Climate Law.

In addition, MEPs propose the establishment of a natural disturbance mechanism for a period from 2026 to 2030. This mechanism would be available to Member States that have not met their annual targets due to ‘natural disturbances’, such as forest fires.

According to the European Parliament’s position, natural carbon sinks are fragile and should therefore not be pooled with the measurement of emissions from the agricultural sector - contrary to the original proposal (see EUROPE 12954/5). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)