Europe An ambitious goal has been set, but one that is consistent with the climate emergency we face. The European Commission recommended on Tuesday that regional governments reduce emissions of polluting gases by 90%like carbon dioxide.
The goal is to achieve this The European Union will achieve net emissions by 2050. That is, it is capable of purifying from the atmosphere the same amount of polluting gases that it emits into the air. The European Commission accepted the recommendation received in January from the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change.
The council warned that European Union policies were falling short of emissions reduction targets that had been proposed for several years. In this regard, the Commission stated that present a legislative proposal, which must be agreed by the European Parliament and member states after the European elections in June.
The commission offers from the very beginning “industrial decarbonisation”, which takes advantage of Europe’s existing industrial strengths. For example, installed capacity thanks to wind energy, hydroelectricity and electrolyzers.
The European Union, as well as countries such as the US and China, reported record growth in the construction of solar panels and wind turbines. In 2023, renewable energy capacity growth will reach its highest peak in 20 years, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Europe’s plan versus the target proposed at global level
Emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂), the main pollutant gas, fell in the European Union to levels not seen since the 1960s. The key to this achievement was increasing clean energy production, according to the latest report from the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).
This is the second largest reduction in pollutant gas emissions that has been recorded. It was left behind only in 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic led to the suspension of much industrial activity.
The European Commission’s new approach also saves the carbon pricing proposal. The initiative involves the implementation of several mechanisms that will force polluting enterprises to pay for the damage caused.. For example, through an emissions tax. The European organization also talks about the need to develop a financing strategy.
Environmental groups analyze everything with tweezers. Some emphasize half measures, for example the Commission mentions phasing out coal in its plan, but says nothing about oil and gas phase-out strategy in Europe.
“You can set targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as much as you want, but without a clear plan to phase out the fossil fuels from which they are made, they are simply not credible,” Dominic Eagleton, an activist with Global Witness, said in a statement . “It’s like building a bicycle without pedals: how are you going to power it?” he added.
Fossil fuels as the main obstacle
Last month Global Witness revealed how fossil fuel industry to spend $223 billion over the next decade in the development of new gas production sites. All this is to provide Europe, most of it is aimed at meeting the demand of the EU countries.
Fossil fuels have been the center of debate at COP28, the UN climate change summit. At times, it has been proposed that a plan to phase out fossil fuels be included in the final agreement. But lobby Major industry players, backed by the United Arab Emirates, which is hosting the summit, have distorted the proposal.
Included at the end was a half-hearted reference to “transitioning” away from fossil fuels in a “fair, orderly and equitable manner.” The COP28 agreement raises the question “triple renewable energy capacity” and “double average energy efficiency” annually by 2030. In this way, a reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide and other pollutants at the global level will be achieved. 43% by 2030. And 60% by 2035.
European climate lawcoming into force from July 2021, sets out the European Union’s obligations to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. It also sets an interim goal of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030. It was this law that required the setting of the 2040 target that the European Commission has just proposed.
Source: Hiper Textual
