The European Union’s ambitions to cut greenhouse gas emissions by more than half by 2030 compared to 1990 has been talked about for a long time. The plan has now been given clearer contours that will affect other key sectors of the European 27 economy.
The European Commission on Wednesday unveiled a long-awaited plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Its basis is the extension of emission allowances to other sectors of the Union economy. While so far this instrument has been practically only about energy and industry, it is also new to road, air and sea transport, construction or building heating.
Alongside this, the European Commission wants to impose a kind of carbon tax on goods imported into the Union from non-member countries to prevent Union firms from avoiding emission reduction requirements by shifting production beyond the Union border. Production of combustion engine cars is also due to end in the European Union by 2035.
“Yes, it’s hard. But it is also a duty to our children and grandchildren,” said European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans, who has EU climate policy in gesci. According to him, it is impossible to let our descendants have to wage wars over water. But the Commission’s plan is too soft, according to Greenpeace.
