The new climate goal is about a reduction in emissions by 2040 by 90 percent compared to 1990. It is part of the policy to reach the already determined final goal of zero net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050.
So far, the climate goal is only a recommendation – the proposal itself and more details about how it will be done will only come when a new EU Commission is in place after the EU elections.
Changes after protests
At the same time as the EU presents the climate target, angry peasant protests have broken out all over Europe. The criticism concerns, among other things, what they consider to be unfair competition and far-reaching climate legislation. The protests have already prompted the European Commission to promise changes. For example, they withdraw the proposal to halve the amount of pesticides in agriculture by the year 2030.
But there are also critics who believe that the EU should go further. In the EU Parliament, both liberals and social democrats demand a target for emission reductions by 2040 of 95 percent, rather than 90.
The Commission wanted to go further
According to leaked documents, however, the EU Commission had intended to go further, where they wanted, among other things, to ban fossil subsidies and for agriculture to reduce the emission of methane gas.
– But you don’t dare. This proposal is put forward knowing full well that the EU’s climate policy is working against the wind – dissatisfaction is growing, says Erika Bjerström.
The EU’s new climate goals may risk a form of culture war in Europe over climate policy, says Erika Bjerström.
– It is ultimately about economics, distribution issues and how we should live in the EU.
Affects the upcoming EU elections
In the Netherlands, Germany and Holland in particular, which have been pioneers in climate policy, there is growing criticism that the policy has been too expensive and ineffective.
In the upcoming EU election, there are fringe parties that have said they will make climate policy their main issue – parties that are expected to advance in the election.
– Should these parties get enough mandates after the election, we could see a situation where the EU starts tearing up climate laws.