Today the European Commission will present its new draft long-term climate strategy for the European Union to the COP. ECO is pleased to have gotten an early look, and is breathing a sigh of relief because the European Commission recognises the need to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C.
We are also pleased to see the proposal for the EU to go to net-zero emissions by 2050. This proposal is a welcome shift, given that the European Commission has spent the last three years implementing legislation that would bring EU emissions down by only around 80% by 2050.
This new net-zero proposal would bring EU emissions down by around 93% by 2050, which is the upper end of the range that was identified by the IPCC in 2007, and was endorsed by the EU in the run up to Copenhagen. And ECO has been advised that the word ‘by’ actually means ‘at the latest’.
The IPCC 1.5°C report reveals that the pathways that limit the chances of overshooting 1.5°C and avoid heavy reliance on carbon removal in the second half of this century require global greenhouse gas emissions to reach net-zero by 2044.
ECO would also like to remind the EU and other developed country Parties that they have agreed to continue to lead on climate action. Hence, it seems only logical the EU should reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, right?
More importantly, ECO looks forward to seeing how the EU’s, leaders adopt the Commission’s proposal, and translate this net-zero vision into reality through short- term action, targets, policies and measures.
ECO is particularly impatient to see how the EU’s long-term vision will help the EU urgently develop an increased 2030 target, which is urgently needed to bridge the emissions gap — as UN Environment has once again reminded the world.
This vision starts from existing policies and assumes emissions will be reduced by 46% by 2030, but does not indicate what an adequate target for 2030 should be. Some EU Member States and the European Parliament have proposed that this be at least 55% and that the time is ripe for the EU to start up a formal process to discuss the enhancement of the EU NDC.
Crucially, progressive EU Member States need to lead discussions on the EU long term strategy, call for the EU to go for net-zero emissions as early as possible, and substantially enhance the EU’s NDC. Why not start at this COP?
