Brussels
8 October 2020
On 7 October 2020, the European Parliament voted for an ambitious European Climate Law. By setting a target of 60% reduction of CO2 emissions by 2030, the European Parliament has set the most ambitious target to date among European Institutions. It is a successful and unprecedented step towards climate protection. The EU must increase the 2030 emission reduction targets if they hope to respect their commitments to the Paris Agreement and the goal to limit global warming to 1.5C. The European Commission and the Council must now align their positions with the European Parliament’s proposal.
On top of this landmark target for emission reductions, the Greens have also won hard-fought battles to include further important elements of climate protection in the European Climate Law. A permanent, interdisciplinary and independent scientific advisory panel on climate, an end to all fossil fuel subsidies, improved access to climate justice, and an EU carbon budget have all been included in the proposal. These, along with the 2030 targets, will need to be defended ahead of the negotiations with the Council and the European Commission.
Evelyne Huytebroeck and Thomas Waitz, co-chairs of the European Green Party comment:
“This is a victory for the climate movement, the Greens and all the voters that voted for the climate in the last few years! We managed to stop conservatives and right-wing forces from putting the fossil industry’s short-term interests above the well-being of future generations. We also successfully built an alliance to stop the nuclear lobby from including nuclear power as a solution.
We are delighted to see that the Members of the European Parliament, representing European citizens in their diversity, sent a strong message today. The European Climate Law will be the basis of a strong European Green Deal and we must use this opportunity to set the EU on track to meet our Paris Agreement commitments. Anything less endangers the opportunities of future generations of Europeans and people around the world, to live fulfilling lives in a stable world. It is as simple as that.
The Greens have been fighting hard and successfully to raise the target from its initial 40%. We continue to support the call of environmental organisations and the Fridays for Future movement for an even stronger reduction of 65%. Yet, the European Parliament's vote is nevertheless a strong step forward for Europe's climate leadership and will lead to real action, and not just words. A fight still lies ahead of us in the negotiations with the Council and the European Commission. The Greens played a crucial role in raising the ambition of the European Parliament, and we will continue fighting to ensure the European Commission and the Council align with this ambition.”
END
Valentin Dupouey
Head of the Communication Unit / Press Officer
E valentin.dupouey@europeangreens.eu
T +32 (0) 485 93 99 26
European Green Party
Rue du Taciturne 34, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
www.europeangreens.eu
