Europe is in « good track » to achieve its targets of dropping emissions by 2030 – Liberation
This is good news, which falls The day the UN warns that the next five years will continue to break temperature records global averages. The European Union is indeed on the right track to achieve its climatic objectives in 2030, rejoices the committee on Wednesday, May 28.
After evaluating thethe national energy plans and climate of most member states, Brussels notes that the EU could reduce its net greenhouse gas emissions by around 54 % by 2030, compared to the levels of 1990, very close to its 55 % target. These have already dropped by 37 % since 1990. Because, details the European Commission, « Member States have considerably filled the gap in relation to energy and climate objectives by 2030 » And « Considerably improved their plans to The continuation of the commission recommendations from December 2023 « . And add that « In the current geopolitical context, this demonstrates that the EU maintains the course on its climate commitments, by investing with determination in the transition towards clean energy and by giving priority to industrial competitiveness and the social dimension of the EU ».
The fact remains that this 54 % drop in emissions by 2030 will only be made« Provided that member states fully implement existing and planned national measures, as well as EU policies »warns the commission. « We must now rely on this dynamic »insists Wopke Hoekstra, the European Commissioner in charge of the climate. « This is a decisive moment : each sector, in each Member State, must contribute « he intimate. The plans of the twenty-seven (commitments on paper) must still be materialized, also hammer environmental organizations.
Brussels is also disparities between member states. Three of them (Belgium, Estonia and Poland) are pointed out for not having given their updated climate energy plans yet. They « Must do so without delay »urges the commission. In particular, this requires twenty-seven of the additional efforts to reduce energy consumption. The difficulties in protecting forests and carbon sequestration are also underlined. This « Weakness of our carbon wellsconsequence of the deterioration of our forests is disturbing and we must remedy it as soon as possible ”asserts the centrist MEP Pascal Canfin (Renew), while welcoming the « good news » Global estimates in 2030.
Another reason for satisfaction for the Commission, most member countries have aligned themselves with its objective on the one hand of 42.5 % of renewable energies in total consumption by 2030. With A bad student from the point of view of Brussels, France, Even if Paris continues to defend its “decarbon” nuclear energy.
After the satisfaction for 2030, the hardest thing remains to be done on the road to climate neutrality promised by the European Union in 2050. Because the twenty-seven will first have to agree on the 2040 stage, and the negotiations trample. More than a year ago, the Commission recommended a 90 % drop in CO2 emissions in 2040 compared to 1990 within the EU. Since then, she has never dared to formally put the proposal on the table. Because some consider the objective inaccessible. Others, like France, do not hide their skepticism and require guarantees on the decarbonation of the industry.
Embarrassed, the European Commission could consider flexibilities in its calculation method in 2040, perhaps thanks to the purchase of carbon credits on international markets. The European executive promises to submit a proposal before summer, and ensures that the EU will be ready for the next UN climate conference (COP 30) in November in Brazil.
But these procrastination worries the environmentalists, who hoped for European mobilization after the withdrawal of the United States of Donald Trump from the Paris climate agreement. And NGOs are alarmed by a Territory to the green pact, the famous « Green Deal » Adopted during the previous mandate of Ursula von der Leyen.
Faced with Chinese competition and customs threats from Donald Trump, the European Union has indeed started a pro business turn in recent months. Postponement of the law against deforestation, suspense on the future of a text devoted to « vigilance » environmental multinationals…: Brussels intends to revise a series of laws, in the name of the fight against « bureaucracy ». And the context has changed within twenty-seven with the rise of the extreme right.
The Spanish socialist Teresa Ribera, vice-president of the commission in charge of the transition, has struggled to be heard so far. With the results of the day, Europe has just « Prove that reliable and predictable objectives, based on scientific data, as well as adequate regulations, are effective », she insists. It remains, therefore, to transform the test.
