European Green Deal – measures aiming to make Europe carbon neutral by 2050 – now including increased costs and taxes for aviation

Date added: 11 December, 2019

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has presented her European Green Deal, a comprehensive climate and nature package of measures to make Europe climate neutral by 2050. The package includes: a 50-55% emissions reduction target for 2030; a climate law to reach net zero emissions by 2050; a fund worth €100 billion to finance the transition; a carbon border tax; and a series of initiatives for sectors such as transport, agriculture, chemicals, buildings and more. NGO Transport & Environment (T&E) said the Deal, aiming to move to completely zero-emission cars and vans, is going in the right direction. For airlines, Von der Leyen proposes to reduce free allowances in the European carbon market (the ETS) – increasing the cost of their pollution – and ending the kerosene tax exemption. The Commission also proposes to include shipping in the ETS, for the first time. T&E says it is reassuring that ICAO and IMO, the UN agencies that have been sabotaging climate progress in these two sectors for at least two decades, are only mentioned in passing. But it is only a statement of intent, not something in law.
.
Tweet

European Green Deal can be a defining moment in the fight against pollution and climate change, says green transport NGO

By Comms Assistant at Transport & Environment (T&E)

December 11, 2019

As the centrepiece of her political mandate, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen today presented her European Green Deal, a comprehensive climate and nature package of measures to make Europe climate neutral by 2050.

The package includes: a 50-55% emissions reduction target for 2030; a climate law to reach net zero emissions by 2050; a fund worth €100 billion to finance the transition; a carbon border tax; and a series of initiatives for sectors such as transport, agriculture, chemicals, buildings and more.

Transport & Environment (T&E), Europe’s leading research and campaign group on clean transport, welcomes the announcement but warns that more needs to be done in transport if we want to fully decarbonise transport and transition to a net zero economy in 2050.

William Todts, Executive Director of T&E, said: “The European Green Deal could be a defining moment in the fight against pollution and climate change. The Commission’s plan to move to completely zero-emission cars and vans through a combination of new standards, ubiquitous charging infrastructure and green batteries is going in the right direction.

“The plan to end aviation’s tax holiday, make sure shipping pays for its emissions and mandate the deployment of clean fuels and technology is welcome. Of course this is just a declaration of intent. The devil will be in the details of the new laws and whether EU governments support the Green Deal, but it is a good start.”

VdL’s Green Deal announces tighter CO2 standards for cars and vans in 2021 and a clear pathway towards zero emission mobility, recognising that combustion engine vehicles must be phased out. In addition, the strategy includes plans for a final set of pollutant emission standards for cars, vans, buses, trucks with a combustion engine (euro 7), a sustainable battery package and a major effort to install recharging infrastructure across Europe. The Commission is also launching a major Just Transition Fund and seems to recognise that a successful green deal needs to be a fair deal that leaves no-one behind.

T&E also welcomes that the Commission appears willing to finally take on aviation and shipping, the biggest climate laggards. For airlines, Von der Leyen proposes to reduce free allowances in the European carbon market (known as the ETS) – increasing the cost of their pollution – and ending the kerosene tax exemption. The Commission also proposes to include shipping in the ETS, the first climate measure for the only sector of the economy that has so far escaped climate action. In this respect, it is reassuring that ICAO and IMO, the UN agencies that have been sabotaging climate progress in these two sectors for at least two decades, are only mentioned in passing as bodies that the EU should coordinate with.

The deal signals a green overhaul of EU and EIB investment policies, as well as plans to build upon the Taxonomy Regulation by publishing a green financing action plan in 2020.

However, T&E warned that VdL’s green programme still falls short of what’s needed to fully decarbonise transport by 2050 and, in some instances, risks repeating past mistakes. For example, the Commission’s plan to boost “sustainable alternative fuels in different sectors” risks reopening the door for gas as well as deforestation and hunger-causing biofuels. Moreover, truck emissions are ignored in this plan with the exception of the road tolling directive. The revision of CO2 standards for trucks needs to come as early as possible and must mandate zero-emission trucks.

Similarly worrying is that the Commission is considering applying the EU ETS to road transport. This failed policy championed by German carmakers would have no impact on car and truck emissions, could fatally undermine the national climate targets and shift the climate burden to motorists and truckers, and risk letting the vehicle manufacturing industry off the hook.

“We’re facing a climate and environmental emergency. We really can’t afford to waste time revisiting failed policies like the promotion of biofuels or wasting limited resources promoting gas vehicles. Europe’s green energy policy is driving deforestation and wildlife destruction worldwide. We need to end this now, not make it worse. What we do need though is a realistic plan to deploy zero-emission electrofuels in aviation and green hydrogen in shipping,” Todts added.

Transport is Europe’s biggest climate problem, representing more than a quarter (27%) of the bloc’s total greenhouse gas emissions. Transport emissions have gone up 30% since 1990 and are still rising. If the EU is to achieve its goal to move to a climate-neutral economy in 2050, the last diesel or petrol car should be sold ideally by 2035, with trucks following soon after.

https://www.transportenvironment.org/press/european-green-deal-can-be-defining-moment-fight-against-pollution-and-climate-change-says

Europe must lead on the climate crisis. The European Green Deal shows how

By Ursula von der Leyen

Wed 11 Dec 2019

Our goal is to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. This new growth strategy allows every European to help

The recently flood-hit communities in areas around England know all too well the cost and damage that extreme weather can cause.Science tells us that we can still stop this epidemic, but we are running out of time. The new European commission is wasting no time. On Wednesday, we present the European Green Deal.

Our goal is to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, slowing down global heating and mitigating its effects. This is a task for our generation and the next, but change must begin right now – and we know we can do it.

The European Green Deal is not just a necessity: it will be a driver of new economic opportunities. Many European firms are already going green, cutting their carbon footprint and discovering clean technologies. They understand that there are planetary limitations and European companies of all sizes understand that everyone has to take care of our common home. They also know that if they discover the sustainable solutions of tomorrow, this will give them an advantage.

What businesses and others need from us is easy access to financing. To pull this off, we will deliver a sustainable European investment plan, supporting €1 trillion of investment over the next decade. In March, we will propose the first European climate law to chart the way ahead and make this irreversible: investors, innovators and entrepreneurs need clear rules to plan their long-term investments.

While we will promote transformation in how we produce and consume, live and work, we must also protect those who risk being hit harder by such change. This transition must work for all or it will not work at all. I will propose to set up a just transition fund to mobilise, together with the leverage of the European Investment Bank and private money, €100bn in investment over the next seven years. We will make sure that we help those European regions that will have to take the biggest steps, so that we leave no one behind.

Across Europe, people young and old are not only asking for climate action, they are already changing their lifestyle: think of the commuters who use bikes or public transport, parents who choose reusable nappies, companies that renounce single-use plastics and bring sustainable alternatives to the market. Many of us are part of this global movement. Climate action protests have seen thousands take to the streets around Britain. But away from the cameras, campaigns such as the Great British Beach Clean organised by the Marine Conservation Society remove tonnes of litter from British coastlines annually.

Nine European citizens out of 10 ask for decisive climate action. Our children rely on us. Europeans want the EU to act at home and lead abroad. People around the world are meeting in Madrid for the U N conference on climate, to discuss collective action against global heating. The European Green Deal is our response. It is a deal by Europe, for Europe, and a contribution to a better world. Every European can be part of the change.

• Ursula von der Leyen is president of the European commission.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/dec/11/europe-climate-crisis-european-green-deal-growth

European Green Deal – measures aiming to make Europe carbon neutral by 2050 – now including increased costs and taxes for aviation

European Green Deal can be a defining moment in the fight against pollution and climate change, says green transport NGO

Share this: