The EU’s climate and environment ministers discussed, on Monday 25 March, the European Commission’s recent communications on climate risk mitigation and the 2040 target for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, as well as the progress of the National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) to achieve the 2030 target.
The aim of these discussions is to give direction to the agenda of the future European Commission. “There is no alternative but to pursue climate action. What is important is to reassure all Europeans who are worried about what is happening in terms of climate change, but also to articulate concerns about competitiveness and how this has an impact on their lives”, said the Commissioner for Climate Action, Wopke Hoekstra.
Adaptation
With regard to the communication on adapting to climate risks (see EUROPE 13368/11), Mr Hoekstra emphasised the need for joint action to deal with the increase in extreme climatic events.
The Member States unanimously stressed that the issue of mitigation should be treated on an equal footing with adaptation to climate change.
On this subject, Alain Maron, Minister for Climate Transition for the Brussels-Capital Region, pointed out that “Europe (was) very exposed” and that what is needed is to “make these issues a priority, while being aware that this is not an escape route from our mitigation efforts. Because, of course, our capacity to adapt is not infinite. So we need to keep working on both”.
2040 Target
The ministers also took stock of the European Commission’s communication on a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040 compared with 1990 levels (see EUROPE 13344/1).
The majority of Member States supported this target. This is particularly true of the Netherlands, Finland, Germany, Sweden, Portugal and Luxembourg.
He explained that the target presented made it possible to achieve “a fair and pragmatic balance” between the needs of industry and scientific recommendations on climate, and also to strengthen the EU’s credibility at international level.
Denmark has even proposed to go further in monitoring emission reduction targets – ahead of carbon neutrality in 2050 – by proposing to set a target for 2035.
Hungary, for its part, stated that “the Member States and the EU institutions must remain focused on the 2030 targets, which already represent a challenge in themselves for the Member States”.
The Czech Republic was the only country to explicitly state during the debate that it had not yet adopted a position on this target and that it was still reserving some time for consideration.
Several countries also welcomed the Commission’s publication of a specific communication on industrial carbon management (see EUROPE 13344/2).
Sector and national analysis. The Czech Republic also indicated that it was essential to involve all economic sectors individually, and submitted a proposal to extend the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to other sectors of activity. France is also calling for this.
To reduce emissions from the agricultural sector, Denmark has proposed setting up an Emissions Trading System (ETS) specifically for the agricultural sector.
In addition to an additional sectoral analysis, several Member States, such as Poland, have requested more in-depth national analyses. Cyprus, for its part, wants to see targeted support for countries facing unique challenges.
A just transition. When asked by the Belgian Presidency (see EUROPE 13370/11) which sectors of activity would require the most effort to decarbonise, most delegations highlighted transport and agriculture.
In the run-up to the European elections, discussions focused on the demands of the farming community, calling into question certain measures in the European Green Deal.
Virtually all delegations called for the principle of a “just transition” and public acceptance to be placed at the heart of the EU’s climate policies.
Spain, Ireland and Austria, however, have criticised the latest changes to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to the detriment of climate measures (see EUROPE 13372/3).
“How can we explain the fact that we have decided to take a break, to slow down on the Green Deal? (...) The climate and ecosystems will not be affected by the elections”, said Spain’s Minister for the Ecological Transition, Teresa Ribera.
Competitiveness. Ireland’s Minister for the Environment, Eamon Ryan, reiterated the importance of investing in the climate transition to boost the EU’s competitiveness. He then called for the adoption of the Nature Restoration Law, negotiations on which have now stalled in the EU Council (see EUROPE 13377/7).
For Sweden, the success of the climate transition depends on a growing European economy, “which is how we can show the way to others”, emphasised Daniel Westlén, Sweden’s State Secretary for Climate and the Environment.
Funding. The ministers placed great emphasis on the issue of funding. Slovenia has requested that, when designing the next Multiannual Financial Framework post-2027, emissions should be one of the criteria for allocating funds.
The Czech Republic has called for the Modernisation Fund, the Just Transition Fund and the Social Climate Fund to be “not only continued, but strengthened” and for the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Commission’s DG Competitiveness to show greater flexibility, particularly with regard to the financing of nuclear energy (see EUROPE 13377/10).
NECPs
Finally, the ministers mentioned their respective progress in drawing up their final National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs), due in June 2024, with some once again arguing for compliance with the principle of technological neutrality (including the development of nuclear power), while others, such as Germany and Austria, reiterated that priority should be given primarily to the development of renewable energies. (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry and Pauline Denys)