After 16 hours of negotiations, EU climate ministers have agreed on a European climate package. The ministers agreed to five new laws that should lead to 55 percent less greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 than in 1990.
Minister Rob Jetten calls the agreement “something to be proud of. The EU is making it clear once again that Europe is and will remain the global climate frontrunner for the time being,” he said in the middle of the night afterwards.
According to Jetten, the laws offer “a balanced mix” of subsidies, standards and pricing that makes it easier for the Netherlands to achieve the national climate goals.
The interests of the 27 countries differ widely in some areas and complicated compromises had to be made.
For example, the European Commission and the European Parliament actually wanted to ban all cars with a combustion engine from 2035. In order to get Germany, a country with an important car industry, on board, it has been agreed that from 2035 only new emission-free passenger cars will be sold.
Aviation must also contribute
Aviation will also gradually have to pay for CO2 emissions. The free emission rights for aircraft are being phased out and “it is historic that maritime shipping will finally be brought under the ETS”, says Jetten. The ETS is the European emission allowance auction system that already exists for industry.
The ministers want to introduce a system comparable to the ETS for buildings and road transport. This system can ensure that annual emissions in these sectors fall. The ETS also provides a financial incentive to invest in sustainability.
A Social Climate Fund will be established to support vulnerable households. “In this way we ensure that everyone can participate in the climate transition,” says Jetten. The climate fund will be worth 59 billion euros, which is 13 billion less than the committee had proposed.
EU to plant trees
The EU will also plant considerably more high-quality forests, because they retain a lot of CO2, the ministers agreed. Member States now have to negotiate the final laws with the European Parliament.
The EU member states have agreed to be climate neutral by 2050, in the so-called Green Deal. To achieve this, European Commissioner Frans Timmermans put the ‘Fit for 55 package’ on the table last year.
The package contains bills to reduce CO2 emissions by 55 percent by 2030. After the talks, Timmermans said it was “a very good day for the Green Deal”.