At the European Parliament’s Committee on Environment (ENVI) on Thursday 5 December, MEPs questioned the European Commission on the action it intends to take to follow up recent publications on the progress of EU climate action in 2024 (see EUROPE 13516/12) and the results of the evaluation of the Governance Regulation (see EUROPE 13480/2).
Few MEPs spoke, but most of those who did called on the new Commission to be ambitious and to continue efforts to achieve the 2030 and 2050 climate targets.
However, in the face of climate-sceptic comments by Spanish MEP Mireia Borrás Pabón (Patriots for Europe), the Commission reaffirmed its commitment to climate action, in particular to promote the EU’s energy security and reduce dependence on fossil fuel imports, in the wake of the energy crisis that began in 2022.
The Commission also reiterated its desire to include the target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040 in European climate legislation (see EUROPE 13344/1). The subject will shortly be addressed by the European Ministers responsible for climate action at the Environment Council on 17 December (see EUROPE 13538/5). A post-2030 package will also have to be prepared by the new Commission, with measures that will be “subject to a detailed impact assessment every time”.
The Commission said that it had taken into account the comments made by Lena Schilling (Greens/EFA, Austrian) concerning aviation emissions under the Emissions Trading System (ETS), which, according to the 2024 Climate Action Report, increased by 9.5% between 2022 and 2023. The MEP called for “serious” measures to be taken on all flights within and outside the EU, and for targeted action to be taken against the biggest emitters, notably through the use of private jets.
Also questioned by Ms Schilling on adaptation to climate change, the Commission reiterated its commitment, for the new legislature, to present new legislation on adaptation.
However, the institution did not respond to a question from Sigrid Friis (Renew Europe, Danish) about details of how the Commission intends to promote electrification at EU level. An action plan for the electrification of the EU is expected to be included in the ‘Clean Industry Deal’, due to be unveiled on 26 February.
With regard to the evaluation of the Governance Regulation – which is due to be revised shortly (see EUROPE 13532/21) – the Commission was asked in particular how to remedy the inadequate planning by Member States to move away from fossil fuels, specifically in the final National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs), of which only just over half (14) have been submitted to date.
The institution pointed out that the EU had already made considerable progress in reducing imports of fossil fuels, particularly from Russia, and pledged to continue along this path in the interests of “accessibility, sustainability and energy security”.
The Commission also came out in favour of Member States stepping up their planning and incorporating more inclusive public consultations. (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)