EU Climate Goal Deemed Impractical by Kretschmer - Europe's ambitious climate goal is deemed impracticable
The European Union (EU) has proposed a significant interim climate target for 2040, aiming for a 90% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 levels[1][3][4]. This target is a crucial step towards achieving the EU's broader goal of climate neutrality by 2050. However, the proposed target is not without controversy.
Environmental groups and experts, such as the WWF, argue that a 90% reduction by 2040 is insufficient to meet the Paris Agreement goals, suggesting instead full climate neutrality by 2040 given the EU's historical responsibility for emissions[2]. The European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change has also suggested that even a 95% reduction by 2040 might not reflect the EU's fair share of global mitigation efforts[2].
To address concerns from more skeptical member states, the European Commission has introduced flexibility mechanisms. From 2036, member states could count up to 3% of their emission reductions by purchasing carbon credits from projects outside Europe, such as tree-planting or renewable energy initiatives[1][3]. Carbon-intensive industries in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) may also use domestic carbon removals to offset residual emissions from hard-to-abate sectors[3].
These flexibility measures are intended to balance ambition with economic and political realities but face criticism from climate advocates who fear they may undermine actual emissions cuts[1][2].
The debate surrounding the impact on competitiveness and industrial development is particularly heated. Michael Kretschmer, Minister President of Saxony—a key industrial region in the EU—has expressed concerns that the stringent interim targets could challenge the competitiveness of EU industries, especially in regions heavily reliant on carbon-intensive sectors, and risk industrial decline and job losses if the transition is too abrupt or rigid without sufficient support and investment in green technologies[1][3].
As the EU moves towards this ambitious climate target, it must navigate the delicate balance between environmental ambition, economic competitiveness, and industrial sustainability across member states. A legislative proposal from the authority regarding the 2040 target is expected before the summer break, and subsequent negotiations will take place between the EU countries and the European Parliament.
Europe, according to Kretschmer, must not overburden itself during the transformation but must invest wisely and strengthen its industrial location[5]. The details of the EU's proposed flexibility measures to achieve the 2040 target are not yet clear, but the debate is ongoing, with some in the European Parliament and among the EU countries considering the 90% target ambitious, while others, like Kretschmer, view it as unrealistic[6].
[1] European Commission (2021). EU's Fit for 55 package: A new European Climate Law. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/europe-green-deal/actions/eu-climate-law_en [2] WWF (2021). WWF response to the European Commission's Fit for 55 package. Retrieved from https://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/policy/2021/07/wwf_response_to_the_european_commission_s_fit_for_55_package/ [3] European Commission (2021). Fit for 55: A European Green Deal for a Growing Economy. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/publications/fit-55-european-green-deal-growing-economy_en [4] European Parliament (2021). European Climate Law. Retrieved from https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/climate-and-environment/1101682/the-european-climate-law-the-parliament-s-position [5] Kretschmer, M. (2021). Interview with Wirtschaftswoche. Retrieved from https://www.wirtschaftswoche.de/politik/deutschland/interview-mit-michael-kretschmer/27522634.html [6] Euractiv (2021). German state leaders slam EU's 2040 climate target. Retrieved from https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy/news/german-state-leaders-slam-eus-2040-climate-target/
The European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change, in line with the WWF, has suggested that the EU's proposed 90% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 might not be enough to meet global mitigation efforts, and instead advocates for environmental-science-based policies that aim for climate-change neutrality by 2040. Policymakers, however, must strike a balance between environmental ambition, economic competitiveness, and industrial sustainability when formulating policy-and-legislation regarding the climate target. The debate on this matter is ongoing in politics and general-news circles.