In a draft long-term EU climate strategy leaked by the media today, the European Commission proposes three options for the EU’s long-term target: 80% emission reductions by 2050, reaching net zero emissions by 2070 and reaching net zero emissions by 2050.
None of these targets reflect the urgency of action to keep temperature rise to 1.5°C enshrined in the IPCC report published earlier today.
In reaction to the leaked document, Wendel Trio, Director of Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe said:
“The strategy in its current shape is far off track to achieve 1.5°C. It is in a stark contrast with the urgency of action enshrined in the new IPCC report released today. The report made it crystal clear that staying below 1.5°C requires that global emissions drop to zero by 2050. Europe needs to reduce emissions much faster than the rest of the world, accepting its fair share of the effort to limit climate change. Staying below 1.5°C means Europe needs to reach net zero emissions by 2040.”
Contacts:
Ania Drazkiewicz, CAN Europe Head of Communications, ania@caneurope.org, +32 494 525 738
Notes:
[1] The draft EU long-term climate strategy has been leaked by Euractiv and is available here: https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2018/10/Draft-LTS.pdf
[2] CAN Europe’s reaction to the IPCC report, outlining what it means for the EU: https://caneurope.org/publications/press-releases/1657-europe-needs-to-step-up-climate-action-as-scientists-deliver-unequivocal-evidence-for-the-need-to-stay-below-1-5-c
[3] More information on the IPCC Special Report: www.ipcc.ch
[4] CAN Europe position on Europe’s long term targets: https://caneurope.org/publications/can-europe-positions/1656-can-europe-position-on-long-term-targets
Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe is Europe’s leading NGO coalition fighting dangerous climate change. With over 150 member organisations from 35 European countries, representing over 1.700 NGOs and more than 40 million citizens, CAN Europe promotes sustainable climate, energy and development policies throughout Europe.
