A draft opinion dated 26 August, drawn up by the rapporteur for the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), Niels Fuglsang (S&D, Danish), calls for the adoption of a greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of “at least 90%” compared to 1990 levels. This is more ambitious than the European Commission’s legislative proposal, which sets a target of 90%, accompanied by ‘enabling’ flexibilities and conditions (see EUROPE 13672/1).
In particular, the opinion stresses the need to adopt a “domestic” target and rejects the inclusion of international carbon credits up to 3% of the target, as formulated in the Commission’s proposal.
“Keeping the EU’s climate target at domestic level also avoids the risk of weakening the EU’s climate efforts when international credits are used, as has previously been the case when international credits were used under the Kyoto Protocol”, the rapporteur points out in a supporting note.
The opinion also calls on the Commission to provide for a “limited role” for permanent carbon removals in the Emissions Trading System (ETS) in order to offset residual emissions from sectors that are difficult to reduce. It also deletes the provision aimed at introducing “flexibility” between sectors in reducing their respective emissions.
The final opinion of the ITRE Committee will be submitted to the Environment Committee (ENVI), which is responsible for the dossier, but is not obliged to take this opinion into account. A vote is scheduled in ITRE on 23 September.
To see the draft opinion: https://aeur.eu/f/i83 (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)