The European Parliament set a new ambitious goal: 2030 target for an emissions reduction of 60 % compared to 1990

The European Parliament today adopted the crucial Climate Law. The goal is finally ambitious as well as feasible – to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 at the latest. The relevant Union institutions and the Member States will take the necessary measures based on the best available, up-to-date science and provide support at Union and national, regional and local level. Moreover, The Union’s 2030 target for climate is an emissions reduction of 60 % compared to 1990.

“After much pressure from scientists and our group, the Union clearly sees that we need to accelerate our path towards climate neutrality. To that end, European Climate Law sets clear guidance which investments we need to avoid. It is not a matter of preference, quite the other way around – investing in emission heavy industries would be not only unwise but actually really threatening,” explains Pirate vice-president of the European Parliament Marcel Kolaja.

“Climate law is not only necessary, but it should also serve as a wake-up call. The old emission heavy industries are already turning obsolete by the day; coal prices are plunging. We need to decisively change and upgrade our industry – not try to conserve it in the age of steam, coal and pollution,” continues Pirate MEP Mikuláš Peksa.

Climate neutrality must achieve the EU not only as a whole but also each of its Member States state. Furthermore, for the Union to reach the climate-neutrality objective by 2050, the EU institutions and all Member States should, as early as possible and by 2025 at the latest, have phased out all direct and indirect fossil subsidies. The phasing out of those subsidies should not impact on efforts to combat energy poverty.