Lawmakers in the EU assembly voted on a proposed EU climate law that called for 60% emissions reduction by 2030, according to a statement by the European Parliament (EP) on Wednesday.
The statement came after the EP on Tuesday adopted its negotiating mandate on the EU climate law, with 392 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) voting in favor of the legislation, 161 voting against, and 142 abstaining.
The new proposed law will see the EU’s current emissions reductions target for 2030 of 40% compared to 1990 raise to 60% up to 2030, by increasing national targets in a cost-efficient and fair manner.
“The new law aims to transform political promises that the EU will become climate neutral by 2050 into a binding obligation and to give European citizens and businesses the legal certainty and predictability they need to plan for the transformation,” the statement said.
MEPs also called for sufficient financing to achieve “negative emissions” by 2050. To this end, they urged the European Commission to propose, by 31 May 2023, a trajectory at the EU level on how to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 via the ordinary decision-making process.
They also urged the European Commission to consider the total remaining EU greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions until 2050 to limit the increase in temperature in line with the Paris Agreement.
- Interim target for 2040 needed
To reach its 2050 target, EU lawmakers suggested that the commission propose an interim target for 2040 following an impact assessment to ensure the EU is on track.
Underlining the need to continue efforts to combat energy poverty, the lawmakers said the EU and member states must also phase out all direct and indirect fossil fuel subsidies by the end of 2025 at the latest.
“The adoption of the report sends a clear message to the Commission and the Council, in light of the upcoming negotiations. We expect all member states to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest and we need strong interim targets in 2030 and 2040 for the EU to achieve this,” Jytte Guteland, a parliament rapporteur, said after the voting session.
The document will now be submitted to the EU Council of Ministers representing the 27 EU member states for final approval.
The EP declared a climate emergency on Nov. 28, 2019.
Following the decision of the European Council in 2019 to support the climate neutrality goal of 2050, the commission introduced EU climate regulations in March 2020 that would make it a legal obligation for the EU to become climate neutral by 2050.
By Sibel Morrow
Anadolu Agency
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