In the European Parliament, differences persist over the EU’s 2040 climate target (see EUROPE 13679/3), as demonstrated by the latest debate on the subject in the Environment Committee meeting on Monday 14 July. However, there are similar concerns about the inclusion of international carbon credits.
The Renew Europe, Greens/EFA and The Left MEPs regretted that the Commission had not followed the advice of the European Scientific Advisory Board, which recommended a 90% reduction target for “domestic” emissions.
The Commission has decided to include the possibility for the EU to reach the target by financing emission reduction projects in third countries through international carbon credits under the Paris Agreement. According to the Commission’s proposal, these appropriations can contribute to a maximum of 3% of the objective.
“Why have you stopped following scientific advice?” insisted Emma Wiesner (Renew Europe, Swedish).
To this question, Kurt Vandenberghe, Director General of DG CLIMA, replied that the Scientific Council had stated that the use of international credits “could be a good thing”.
“It proposes it as a complement to the 90-95% domestic reduction. We proposed it as part of the 90% reduction, but in a very limited way”, he justified.
Peter Liese (EPP, German) also questioned how the Commission intended to ensure the quality of these credits, while Alexandr Vondra (ECR, Czech) was annoyed that the Commission had been unable to give a satisfactory explanation for the 3% threshold for international carbon credits.
“We think this is the balance between taking responsibility for domestic emission reduction, but also contributing to the global effort”, explained Mr Vandenberghe.
More broadly, he explained that by entering the global credit market, Europe could better define standards and contribute to global climate action.
“At the end of the day, whoever buys the credit also sets the requirements in terms of quality, additionality and integrity”, he commented.
During the debate, the Greens/EFA and The Left once again took offence at the fact that the far-right Patriots for Europe group had seized on the Parliament’s report on the 2040 target when “they don't want it”.
The Patriotes, as well as the ECR group, have condemned the proposal in its entirety, stressing in particular the negative impact it will have on energy-intensive industry in Europe. (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)