EU Environment Ministers have agreed to increase the bloc’s climate targets ahead of the COP27 climate conference in Sharm el Sheikh, and following a European Parliament resolution for increased emissions reductions, fossil fuels phase out, scaled up climate finance, and a loss and damage finance facility.

The EU has already pledged to cut its net emissions by 55 per cent from 1990 levels by 2030 and is currently working towards its Fit for 55 package of energy and climate laws to meet these targets. These are now being revised upwards after the Russian attack on the Ukraine, and subsequent need to find alternative energy sources that will not fund Russia’s war machine. The result is likely to be a higher goal than the original 55 per cent.

According to Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe, the EU needs to reduce its emissions by at least 65 per cent by 2030 to contribute to the Paris Agreement, in line with its polluting history.

Any increase will be subject to final approval, and also is likely to focus on Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) that will bind the more major economies to higher targets.

Although any revision has been welcomed by climate groups, some reservations about exactly how far the measures will go has been expressed by Chiara Martinelli, CAN Europe director, who said: “The elected representatives of EU citizens are setting the bar high for the Member States and the European Commission and they clearly call for bold climate action in the next UN Climate Summit in Egypt. When finalising their positions next week, EU Ministers must recognise that urgent steps are needed now to sufficiently shift the world’s course in this critical decade and the EU should play a leading role in this challenge.”

Share Story: