European Climate Law

2020/0036(COD)

The European Parliament adopted by 442 votes to 203, with 51 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the framework for achieving climate neutrality and amending Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 (European Climate Law).

The European Parliament's first reading position under the ordinary legislative procedure amends the proposal as follows:

Binding climate neutrality targets by 2050 and increased ambition for 2030

The proposed regulation aims to establish a framework for the irreversible and gradual reduction of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions by sources and enhancement of removals by sinks regulated in EU law.

In concrete terms, the regulation:

- sets a binding EU climate neutrality target by 2050 towards the long-term temperature goal of the Paris Agreement, and provides a framework for achieving progress in pursuit of the global adaptation goal set out in that agreement;

- sets a binding EU climate target for 2030 of at least a 55% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions (emissions minus removals) in the EU by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.

After 2050, the EU will strive to achieve negative emissions.

EU interim climate targets

In order to achieve the objective of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030, the relevant EU institutions and Member States will need to prioritise early and predictable emission reductions and, at the same time, enhance removals by natural sinks.

In order to ensure that sufficient mitigation efforts are deployed up to 2030, for the purpose of this Regulation and without prejudice to the review of Union legislation, the contribution of net removals to the Union 2030 climate target should be limited to 225 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. In order to enhance the Union’s carbon sink in line with the objective of achieving climate neutrality by 2050, the Union should aim to achieve a higher volume of its net carbon sink in 2030.

Union-wide climate target for 2040

Within six months of the first global stocktaking under the Paris Agreement, the Commission should present a legislative proposal to amend this Regulation to incorporate the Union's 2040 climate target, taking into account the conclusions of the assessments of the Union's progress as well as national measures and the results of the global stocktaking.

By 30 September 2023, and every five years thereafter, the Commission should assess the collective progress made by all Member States, as well as the consistency of national measures, towards achieving the 2050 carbon-neutral objective.

When preparing its legislative proposal for the Union's 2040 climate target, the Commission should simultaneously publish the Union's indicative greenhouse gas budget for the period 2030-2050, defined as the indicative total net greenhouse gas emissions (expressed in CO2 equivalent and containing separate information on emissions and removals) that are expected to be emitted during that period without jeopardising the EU's commitments under the Paris Agreement.

The regulation specifies that when proposing the Union's climate target for 2040, the Commission should take into account, inter alia:

- the best available and most recent scientific evidence;

- the social, economic and environmental impacts, including the costs of inaction;

- the need to ensure a just and socially fair transition for all;

- the competitiveness of the EU economy, in particular SMEs and sectors most exposed to carbon leakage;

- energy efficiency and energy efficiency first principle;

- the need to maintain, manage and enhance natural sinks in the long term and to protect and restore biodiversity.

Adaptation to climate change

The Commission should adopt a Union strategy on adaptation to climate change in line with the Paris Agreement and should regularly review.

The relevant Union institutions and the Member States should also ensure that policies on adaptation in the Union and in Member States are coherent, mutually supportive, provide co-benefits for sectoral policies, and work towards better integration of adaptation to climate change in a consistent manner in all policy areas. They should focus, in particular, on the most vulnerable and impacted populations and sectors, and identify shortcomings in this regard in consultation with civil society.

European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change

In view of the importance of independent scientific advice, a European Scientific Advisory Board composed of 15 senior scientific experts should be set up to assess the progress and coherence of EU policy towards the targets.

The European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change should serve as a point of reference for the Union on scientific knowledge relating to climate change by virtue of its independence and scientific and technical expertise.

Sectoral roadmaps

The Commission should engage with sectors of the economy within the Union that choose to prepare indicative voluntary roadmaps towards achieving the climate-neutrality objective. The Commission should monitor the development of such roadmaps. Its engagement should involve the facilitation of dialogue at Union level, and the sharing of best practice among relevant stakeholders.