In its report ‘Towards EU climate neutrality: progress, policy gaps and opportunities’ published on Thursday 18 January, the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change calls for immediate action to make the European Union climate-neutral.
This report, based on the assessment of more than 80 indicators, reveals an urgent need to step up efforts in all sectors, particularly in construction, transport, agriculture and forestry, to achieve the 2030-2050 climate targets.
The study recommends reducing the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions by 90-95% by 2040, in line with the objective of limiting global warming to 1.5°C under the Paris Agreement. Despite the potential of the ‘Fit for 55’ legislative package to accelerate decarbonisation, the Scientific Advisory Board insists on the need for additional measures to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.
The Board emphasises the urgent need for Member States to strengthen and implement their national energy and climate plans, in order to ensure a reduction in EU emissions of 55% or more by 2030.
The report also stresses the need to revise the Energy Taxation Directive and eliminate fossil fuel subsidies, which amount to around €50 billion a year, hampering the reduction in the use of fossil fuels.
With regard to agriculture and forestry, the report recommends aligning the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy with its climate ambitions, by favouring less emissions-intensive agricultural practices. It also suggests introducing emission pricing in these sectors by 2031.
Finally, the Scientific Board insists on a fair and equitable transition, which is necessary to maintain public support for climate action, calling for a systematic assessment of the socio-economic impacts of climate measures and the implementation of redistributive measures for the households and businesses most affected.
The Greenpeace EU climate and energy campaigner, Silvia Pastorelli, points out that, with this publication by the European Scientific Advisory Board, the EU Council’s own scientific advisers are saying that the EU talks a big game on climate, but then doesn’t actually deliver. In her view, “the EU must set a date for the end of all fossil fuels and start the plans to make that a reality in a way that protects the most vulnerable”.
The EPP Group’s environment policy spokesman, Peter Liese (German), stresses that the authorisation processes for companies wishing to invest in the energy transition need to be speeded up. He went on to say that the European Commission should set up a working group to help third countries introduce emissions trading systems like those in the EU, “in order to achieve truly global climate protection”.
To see the report: https://aeur.eu/f/agd (Original version in French by Pauline Denys and Nithya Paquiry)