Fixing Europe’s climate policy

The Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR) sets an overall EU climate target which it divides into national targets. However, the total amount of pollution released over the time period - the carbon budget – can change dramatically depending on the starting point for the targets. The European Commission proposes basing the 2030 targets on average emissions between 2016 and 2018, which is too high.

The Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR) sets an overall EU climate target which it divides into national targets. However, the total amount of pollution released over the time period - the carbon budget – can change dramatically depending on the starting point for the targets. The European Commission proposes basing the 2030 targets on average emissions between 2016 and 2018, which is too high.

The Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR) sets an overall EU climate target which it divides into national targets. However, the total amount of pollution released over the time period - the carbon budget – can change dramatically depending on the starting point for the targets. The European Commission proposes basing the 2030 targets on average emissions between 2016 and 2018, which is too high.

The land use and forestry (LULUCF) sector removes more carbon from the atmosphere than it releases. LULUCF carbon removals cannot be counted towards EU 2020 climate targets, but the EU Commission has proposed that a 280 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent can be counted towards the 2030 targets. The ‘carbon credits’ from these emissions removals would allow Member States to make less effort to cut emissions from the transport, buildings, agriculture and waste sectors.

The land use and forestry (LULUCF) sector removes more carbon from the atmosphere than it releases. LULUCF carbon removals cannot be counted towards EU 2020 climate targets, but the EU Commission has proposed that a 280 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent can be counted towards the 2030 targets. The ‘carbon credits’ from these emissions removals would allow Member States to make less effort to cut emissions from the transport, buildings, agriculture and waste sectors.

The land use and forestry (LULUCF) sector removes more carbon from the atmosphere than it releases. LULUCF carbon removals cannot be counted towards EU 2020 climate targets, but the EU Commission has proposed that a 280 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent can be counted towards the 2030 targets. The ‘carbon credits’ from these emissions removals would allow Member States to make less effort to cut emissions from the transport, buildings, agriculture and waste sectors.

There are far too many emissions allowances available in the EU ETS. This is mainly due to the massive use of international offsets, the initial over-allocation of permits, and the economic recession. Under current legislation all surplus permits can be ‘banked’ (carried over) for later ETS trading phases. This means that there will continue to be too many pollution permits and countries will not have to make the necessary efforts to cut emissions.

There are far too many emissions allowances available in the EU ETS. This is mainly due to the massive use of international offsets, the initial over-allocation of permits, and the economic recession. Under current legislation all surplus permits can be ‘banked’ (carried over) for later ETS trading phases. This means that there will continue to be too many pollution permits and countries will not have to make the necessary efforts to cut emissions.

The majority of EU pollution is regulated by the Effort Sharing Directive. However, pollution from the EU’s largest industrial emitters is covered by the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). The ETS has a reduction target of 21% below 2005 levels by 2020 and of 43% by 2030. In reality, CO₂ emissions counted under both the ESD and the ETS are going down far faster than the reduction target. In the ETS sectors, emissions will already be down 38% on 2005 levels by 2020.

The majority of EU pollution is regulated by the Effort Sharing Directive. However, pollution from the EU’s largest industrial emitters is covered by the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). The ETS has a reduction target of 21% below 2005 levels by 2020 and of 43% by 2030. In reality, CO₂ emissions counted under both the ESD and the ETS are going down far faster than the reduction target. In the ETS sectors, emissions will already be down 38% on 2005 levels by 2020.

The current EU target for 2030 – a 40% cut in emissions compared to 1990– is not in line with the Paris objective of limiting temperature rise to well below 2° and pursuing efforts to limit the increase to less than 1.5°. On a linear pathway, a 40% reduction in 2030 means a 70% reduction in 2050, which is far too low even when compared to the EU’s 2050 indicative target of 80-95%, not to mention the greater ambition required under the Paris Agreement.