EU Commission wants 90 percent fewer emissions by 2040

New EU air conditioning

EU Commission wants 90 percent fewer emissions by 2040

Climate protection plays a lower role in public than a few years ago. The EU Commission still sets a new goal. But there is a small back door.

The European Commission plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the EU by 2040 by at least 90 percent compared to 1990. Part of this is to be compensated for by internationally recognized climate certificates, as can be seen from a proposal for a mandatory 2040 climate center.

With the 2040 goal, another binding intermediate step on the way to the desired climate neutrality would be set by 2050-that is, the aim of no more greenhouse gases than bound again. The plans now presented must still be negotiated by the EU countries and the European Parliament. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: “Today we show that we are firmly on our obligation to decarbonize the European economy by 2050.”

In order for the goal to be achieved, the Commission wants to create more flexibility. So far, the EU has to achieve its climate goals through greenhouse gas reductions on its own soil. According to the proposal, it should also be possible from 2036 to recognize climate certificates from non-EU countries. With these, greenhouse gas emissions that arise in the EU could then be offset.

Specifically, the Commission proposes to apply this type of compensation for three percent of the emission amount from 1990. Since the three percent refer to the base year 1990 and the emissions have dropped since then, the proportion of today’s emissions that actually compensates would be significantly higher.

The Commission emphasized that the number was the result of a consideration. On the one hand, the EU shows that it continues the domestic climate protection measures, but on the other hand it also opens up to cooperation with third countries.

For the black-red federal government, the compensation through climate certificates is a prerequisite for the German support of the 90 percent goal. The CDU, CSU and SPD coalition agreement stipulates that they make up a maximum of three percentage points of the goal.

The 2040 goal is also to be used as the basis for the climate plans that the EU has to submit to the UN. By September at the latest, the state of the state must present its climate protection plans for the period until 2035 so that they will come in time before the World Climate Conference in Brazil in November. The first submission period in February had missed the community of states – like most countries. The national climate plans are a central element of the Paris climate protection agreement, which is celebrating the tenth anniversary this year.