The ‘Together for 1.5’ consortium of 14 European NGOs and associations, including Climate Action Network Europe (CAN Europe), has expressed serious concerns about the current review of the National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs).
In a letter sent on Thursday 15 February to Commissioners Kadri Simson and Wopke Hoekstra, responsible for energy and climate action respectively, the NGOs stress the urgent need for the European Commission to ensure that Member States’ NECPs are aligned with the EU legislative framework and the Paris Agreement.
The letter follows the Commission’s latest evaluation report (see EUROPE 13317/5), which highlights that current NECP projects fall far short of meeting the EU’s 2030 climate and energy objectives, as set out in the European Climate Law. There is growing concern that this lack of ambition will undermine the EU’s climate neutrality objective.
The European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change (ESABCC) has also urged Member States to speed up emission reductions. The consortium echoed these conclusions. A major concern is insufficient public consultation and dialogue in the NECP process.
The consortium stresses the need for the Commission to impose stricter measures, if necessary. Finally, on the same day, the NGO coalition CAN Europe launched a tool to monitor the progress of the NECPs.
To see the tool, go to https://aeur.eu/f/awa
To see the letter, go to https://aeur.eu/f/awb (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)