Today the European Parliament’s Industry and Environment Committees adopted their position on the future Governance Regulation, which will create a framework for the zero-carbon transition in the EU. MEPs voted in favour of increasing the EU’s long term target to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 the latest [1] and supported robust rules for how to reach the 2030 climate and energy targets.
In reaction to the results of the vote, Wendel Trio, Director of CAN Europe said:
“Reducing emissions to zero by 2050 at the latest is an imperative to deliver on the EU’s Paris Agreement commitments. Today’s vote proves that the Parliament understands the urgency of drastically increasing climate action. The vote adds momentum for scaling up emission cuts in the EU. Member States must stop dragging their feet and raise the level of ambition of all energy and climate targets and policies in line with the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.”
MEPs also called for a new EU 2050 zero-carbon roadmap to be developed by 1st January 2019, ratcheting up of ambition through national energy and climate plans which should be revised every five years, and requiring Member States to follow linear trajectories for the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency to ensure that the 2030 energy targets are met.
The Energy Council is expected to agree on its position on the Governance Regulation on 18th December. So far most EU countries have made proposals for how to weaken the law, rather than strengthen it.
“If Ministers are serious about their commitment to the Paris Agreement they should work with the Parliament to improve European legislation instead of weakening what is on the table” – Trio concluded.
ENDS
Contacts:
Ania Drazkiewicz, CAN Europe Communications Coordinator, ania@caneurope.org, +32 494 525 738
Notes:
[1] The current EU long-term target included in the European Commission’s 2050 Roadmap is set at 80% reductions by 2050.
Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe is Europe’s largest coalition working on climate and energy issues. With over 140 member organisations in more than 30 European countries – representing over 44 million citizens – CAN Europe works to prevent dangerous climate change and promote sustainable climate and energy policy in Europe.
