The European Parliament is preparing to vote on changes to the European Climate Law that would set a binding target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 90 per cent by 2040, compared with 1990 levels. The move follows approval of the proposal by the Parliament’s environment committee, reports argusmedia.com.
The committee cleared the proposal on January 19, with 50 members voting in favour, 26 against and one abstention. The Parliament’s largest centre-right group, the European People’s Party (EPP), was divided on the issue, with eight of its 11 members opposing the 2040 target, joining far-right and conservative lawmakers.
The draft report was prepared by Ondrej Knotek of the far-right Patriots for Europe group, who voted against the target and had earlier recommended removing the 90 per cent reduction goal from the legislation.
Despite this opposition, the strong backing in committee suggests the proposal is likely to be approved when it goes before the full Parliament during its plenary session in Strasbourg, expected to take place between February 9 and 12.
Austrian lawmaker Lena Schilling said the committee vote showed that cooperation among the EPP, Greens, centre-left Socialists and Democrats, and the Left groups remained intact.
If approved by a majority in the plenary, the revised law will still need formal backing from a qualified majority of EU member states before being published in the EU’s official journal and entering into force. Parliament and EU governments reached a provisional agreement on the changes on December 9.
Under the revised rules, the EU will be allowed to use certain international carbon credits from 2036 to help meet the 2040 goal. These credits would be capped at five per cent of the EU’s 1990 net emissions, while ensuring that most reductions are achieved within the EU itself.
The changes also delay the inclusion of road transport and heating fuels in the new emissions trading system by one year, shifting the start from 2027 to 2028. In addition, the revised law allows permanent carbon removal projects within the EU to offset emissions that are difficult to eliminate under the trading system.
