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Key EU lawmaker wants rules to prevent countries dodging emissions cuts

(EurActiv, 17 Jan 2022) Europe needs tougher rules and financial penalties to ensure each country cuts its greenhouse gas emissions if the EU wants to deliver the bloc’s climate targets, according to the European Parliament’s lead lawmaker on the policy.

The EU is overhauling its climate policies to achieve its goal of cutting net emissions by 55% by 2030 from 1990 levels. That includes an upgrade, proposed by the European Commission last summer, of the national emissions targets Brussels sets for each EU member state.

An early draft of the European Parliament’s amendments to that proposal, seen by Reuters, said that, by 2026, the Commission should lay out a pathway for each country to attain its emissions target and eventually have net zero emissions by 2050. The Commission would then propose laws to achieve those aims.

“Europe will not be able to reach our climate goals unless every member state contributes,” said Swedish lawmaker Jessica Polfjard, parliament’s lead negotiator on the proposal.

Countries that fall short of their emissions targets must submit a plan of actions to get back on track to the EU, the amendments said.

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EurActiv, 17 Jan 2022: Key EU lawmaker wants rules to prevent countries dodging emissions cuts