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EurOil POLICY EurOil

European Parliament backs tougher

2030 target for emissions

EUROPE THE European Parliament on October 6 voted “I regret that the majority in the European
in favour of a legally binding target for the EU Parliament did not support the European Com-
The new emissions to curb its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by mission’s Climate Law proposal but voted for the
target will be negotiated 60% by 2030 against the level in 1990, versus a overambitious 60%,” he said on Twitter, adding
by member states. previous 40% goal. that the latter would endanger jobs.
The proposal was passed by a large majority The EC wants the new target for 2030 to be
of MEPs, with 392 voting in favour and only 161 finalised by the end of the year, but it will need
against, with 142 abstentions. Parliament must a compromise from member states. Wealthier
now agree the final law with the EU’s 27 mem- states such as France and Germany with signifi-
ber states, some of whom do not support such cant clean energy capacity are pushing for deeper
rapid reductions. Those advocating the 60% goal cuts to emissions. But coal-reliant countries like
will want to avoid countries trying to whittle it Poland and the Czech Republic are concerned
down below the European Commission’s 55% about the economic fallout of tougher targets.
proposal. The EC described the 55% target as “achiev-
Lawmakers also want the EC to come up with able” and “beneficial” for the EU economy. But
an interim target for emissions cuts by 2040, and environmentalists say a 60% cut is the bare min-
have called for the creation of an independent imum needed for the bloc to stand a chance of
EU Climate Change Council to monitor pro- reaching net zero by 2050.
gress. In addition, they are pushing for a phase- The European Parliament also backed the
out of all direct and indirect fossil fuel subsidies inclusion of pollution from shipping in the EU
by the EU and its member states by December emissions trading system in late September,
31, 2025. which is also likely to lead to tough negotiations
“The adoption of the report sends a clear with member states. Taxing ships for the carbon
message to the Commission and the Council, in they emit is sure to drive up transportation costs,
light of the upcoming negotiations,” Parliament at a time when the shipping sector is struggling.
Rapporteur Jytte Guteland, of the Progressive MEPs likewise went further than the EC, which
Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, com- had called for aligning EU emissions rules with
mented on the vote in a statement. “We expect those of the International Maritime Organisa-
all member states to achieve climate neutrality by tion (IMO).
2050 at the latest and we need strong interim tar- Norway’s Equinor and France’s Total last
gets in 2030 and 2040 for the EU to achieve this.” week announced they had joined the Sea Cargo
Others were less enthused. German law- Charter, requiring them to report their shipping
maker Peter Liese of the centre-right European emissions transparently. The Charter sets a com-
People’s Party said the 60% goal was “overambi- mon baseline to assess quantitatively whether
tious” and called on member states to back the shipping activities are in line with climate goals
original 55% proposal. and disclose them. ™

P16 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 41 15•October•2020