EU commits to decreasing emissions even in disparate surroundings
The European Union (EU) has approved a range of emission reduction targets, with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions between -66.25% and -72.5% compared to 1990 levels. However, internal divisions over the trajectory of reaching these targets persist, casting a shadow over the EU's ambitions to lead in climate action.
Denmark, currently the rotating president of the EU, presented the emission reduction targets to demonstrate Europe's environmental leadership. The proposal includes flexibility in the calculation method and the possibility of acquiring international carbon credits to finance projects outside of Europe.
The approval of these targets follows tough negotiations between environment ministers at a summit in Brussels. Denmark, Sweden, and Spain are pushing for a 90% reduction target, while Hungary and the Czech Republic oppose it, and France remains cautious. The approved targets are subject to refinement if an agreement is reached in the coming weeks or months.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has expressed confidence that the 2040 issue will be resolved before the COP26 conference, scheduled to take place in Belém, Brazil. Von der Leyen will defend Europe's climate ambitions next Wednesday at the UN General Assembly and COP26.
The European Commissioner, Wopke Hoekstra, has also expressed confidence that the 2040 issue will be resolved. However, some critics, such as centrist MEP Pascal Canfin, have criticized the approved emission reduction targets, stating that it is not a decision.
Elisa Giannelli of the 'think tank' E3G suggested that the approved emission reduction targets allow the EU to save face internationally, but it is far from ideal. The document approved is a 'statement of intentions' and not a firm commitment, which some see as a step back from the EU's climate objectives.
The rise of the far right in the European elections of June 2024 has reportedly made the EU less proactive on environmental issues. Amidst a tense geopolitical context, ecology struggles to find a place on the agenda.
Despite these challenges, the Portuguese Minister for the Environment, Maria da Graça Carvalho, has denied that the European Union has backtracked on its objectives to combat climate change. Carvalho also denied any retreat in climate ambitions, despite leaders wanting to defer decisions to the European Council.
The European states supporting the goal of a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 include Germany, which aims for at least an 88% reduction by 2040 and climate neutrality by 2045. Scandinavian countries like Norway, Denmark, and Sweden also plan to be fully electrified and decarbonized between 2030 and 2040.
The EU's ability to continue assuming a leadership role in climate targets will depend on its ability to overcome internal divisions and strengthen its commitment to combating climate change. The European Commission's proposal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040 compared to the 1990 target seems increasingly distant, but the EU remains committed to working towards a more sustainable future.
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