Today, 6th June, marks the start of the elections for the European Parliament. Countries will go to the polls until Sunday. ECO hopes that all delegates have cast their ballots and do not miss out due to presence here in Bonn. Every vote against anti-democratic, authoritarian-leaning and often climate-denying groups is needed to accelerate the path started with the European Green Deal.
But as we approach a new EU policy cycle on the critical road to Baku and Belem, what actually is the state of play on the next EU NDC?
ECO hears that the veil will only begin to lift after the elections. According to EU processes, the agreement on an intermediate 2040 target on the way to the bloc’s 2050 climate neutrality goal will be a key step for an NDC. The European Commission put a proposal on the table for net reductions of 90% by 2040, compared to 1990 levels, in its Communication in early February with a strong reliance on carbon capture. Unfortunately, it made no indication to upgrade the 2030 target.
Since then, there have been technical exchanges and minister-level deliberations. However, ECO is concerned that a clear political pathway to deliver an ambitious NDC in time for the February 2025 deadline is not yet on the table! Obviously, bringing meaningful progress at the required level of ambition to the COP and G20 this year would be conducive to global progress.
ECO wants to be clear: the ambition of current EU targets is insufficient: Instead of 55% net reductions by 2030 the EU must go to at least 65% gross emission reductions taking into account a fair approach to 1.5°C, and the climate neutrality goal should be moved forward to 2040 at the latest. Consequently, there must be an ambitious 2035 target in the EU’s NDC. The EU, in response to the GST, should also develop clear fossil fuel phase-out pathways. ECO urges a coal phase-out by 2030, fossil gas by 2035 and oil by 2040).
So against the above background, ECO hopes to leave Bonn next week with more clarity, and encourages delegates from other countries to raise critical questions with the EU delegation:
- The GST outcome called for enhanced ambition. Will the EU increase its 2030 target when submitting the next NDC?
- Will the EU pull forward its climate neutrality target to 2040, and include a consequently ambitious 2035 target?
- What considerations does the EU undertake to incorporate fossil fuel phase out strategies, and a big ramping up of sustainable renewable energies in the next NDC?
- What is the plan for the EU to deliver the next NDC no later than February 2025?
- And will the EU ensure a participatory process in developing its NDC?
Will the EU finally answer whether it considers its targets as a fair contribution to the effort to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C by indicating on what basis such an effort should be divided across countries?
Dear delegates, feel free to share responses you get with ECO, so we might compile those in a follow up article, with anonymity secured. Dear Europeans, get out and vote for enhanced climate action!