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EU leaders to debate who will pay for green transition

(Reuters, 24 May 2021) Under the current system poorer states face lower targets, but goals now need to be toughened.

European Union leaders meet on Tuesday to debate how to split the efforts and costs of the bloc's shift to a low-carbon future, at a summit that will set the tone for an upcoming revamp of EU climate change policies.

The EU's executive Commission is due to publish a huge set of climate policy proposals in July, including carbon market reforms and tougher carbon dioxide standards for cars. All will need approval from its 27 member states.

Leaders will discuss on Tuesday how to meet the new EU target agreed last month to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030, against 1990 levels. The previous target was 40%.

The talks will shed light on what policy changes EU governments are likely to accept, to deliver this goal.

A draft of the summit conclusions, seen by Reuters and in line with a previous draft, shows EU leaders will ask the Commission to maintain the EU's system of setting national emissions-cutting targets based largely on a country's gross domestic product (GDP) per capita.

Officials from multiple countries said they would support this.

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Reuters, 24 May 2021: EU leaders to debate who will pay for green transition