European Parliament adopts climate target for 2040 – despite right wing attempts at sabotage
EU 2040 climate target
The European Parliament today cleared the way for the EU climate target for 2040. Just last week, the Council finalised its position, and following votes in the lead Environment Committee and the advisory Industry Committee, a large majority of MEPs voted in favour of the agreement reached at the last minute. The goal remains to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90 per cent by 2040. However, the majority voted to outsource five per cent of this to certificates for EU-funded climate projects in countries outside the EU. Outsourcing five per cent of climate protection to countries outside the EU will cost around €100 billion – money that will be lacking for climate protection investments within the EU. The Greens/EFA Group were able to push through quality controls for the certificates and a review in the final agreement. After the EPP had delayed the negotiations for a long time, the EU can now finally present its climate target for 2040 at the UN Climate Change Conference COP30.
Bas Eickhout, Greens/EFA Co-President and member of the European Parliament´s COP30 delegation, comments:
“It is crucial that finally, the EU can send a clear signal at the climate conference in Belém. The commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 90 per cent by the year 2040 is a Greens/EFA win for the climate, but also for Europe's future economy. We cannot leave it to China and President Xi Jinping to declare themselves the hero of climate action. Still, outsourcing climate action with carbon credits is neither effective nor smart and will be lacking for investments in greening our industry, economy and jobs in Europe. EPP's delaying tactics are causing unnecessary uncertainty, now is the time for a clear course towards climate action and green investments.”
Lena Schilling, Greens/EFA shadow rapporteur for the EU2040 climate target in the lead Environment Committee and member of the European Parliament´s COP30 delegation, comments:
"At the very last minute, the EU has managed to avert complete embarrassment going into COP30 and has fended off the rejection of the climate target by right-wing climate deniers. We Greens/EFA were able to ensure that the 90 per cent target remains in place and that the EU is sending a clear signal, at least in terms of reducing climate-damaging greenhouse gases. The downside remains the greenwashing through international credits and a delayed CO₂ price – concessions driven by conservatives and member states. At least we were able to ensure that the certificates no longer pass as a carte blanche. It is unacceptable that billions in EU taxpayers' money are being poured into projects without a single tonne of CO₂ being saved.”
Greens/EFA MEPs at COP30
Greens/EFA MEPs Lena Schilling, Bas Eickhout and Sara Matthieu will be attending the World Climate Conference in Belém and will be available for interviews and background information.
