EU negotiators reach deal on bloc’s 2030 emissions target
The European Union has reached a deal on the European Climate Law allowing it to go into the US-hosted climate summit with an agreement on the bloc’s 2030 target.
After 14 hours of talks, negotiators from the European Parliament and EU member states reached an agreement on the European Climate Law that will enshrine its commitment to reaching climate neutrality by 2050.
Parties reached an agreement to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by “at least 55%” by 2030, compared to 1990 levels.
That objective will also become a legal obligation for the EU and its member states.
While the 55% target is lower than the 60% that Parliament had earlier voted for, EU member states made a concession to MEPs by agreeing to cap the contribution of carbon removals from land use, agriculture and forestry.
In addition, the European Commission agreed to consider increasing the contribution of carbon sinks in order to bump up the EU’s climate ambition to 57%, although this is not written in the law.
EU negotiators also decided to establish an independent scientific advisory body, the European Scientific Advisory Board, to advise policymakers on the alignment of EU policies with the bloc’s climate neutrality goal.
The new body will consist of 15 members from across Europe, each nominated for a four-year mandate.
“We raised the ambition of the 2030 net target to almost 57%, we got the GHG-budget and the Advisory board. We wanted more, but this is a good first step towards climate neutrality,” said Jytte Guteland, the Parliament’s lead negotiator.
After 14 hours of talks, negotiators from the European Parliament and EU member states reached an agreement on the European Climate Law that will enshrine its commitment to reaching climate neutrality by 2050.
Parties reached an agreement to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by “at least 55%” by 2030, compared to 1990 levels.
That objective will also become a legal obligation for the EU and its member states.
While the 55% target is lower than the 60% that Parliament had earlier voted for, EU member states made a concession to MEPs by agreeing to cap the contribution of carbon removals from land use, agriculture and forestry.
In addition, the European Commission agreed to consider increasing the contribution of carbon sinks in order to bump up the EU’s climate ambition to 57%, although this is not written in the law.
EU negotiators also decided to establish an independent scientific advisory body, the European Scientific Advisory Board, to advise policymakers on the alignment of EU policies with the bloc’s climate neutrality goal.
The new body will consist of 15 members from across Europe, each nominated for a four-year mandate.
“We raised the ambition of the 2030 net target to almost 57%, we got the GHG-budget and the Advisory board. We wanted more, but this is a good first step towards climate neutrality,” said Jytte Guteland, the Parliament’s lead negotiator.
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