Climate change
MEPs vote for EU to step up to 30% greenhouse gas reduction target for 2020
The European Parliament environment committee today adopted a report by Green rapporteur/draftsman Bas Eickhout on the EU's climate change policy, including a call to step up to a 30% greenhouse gas reduction target in 2020. After the vote, Bas Eickhout said:
"Today's vote sends a timely and important signal to European governments that stepping up to a higher emissions target is not only essential for tackling the climate crisis, but would also give a boost to the economy and innovation. We welcome the support of a large majority of MEPs on the environment committee to this end (1) and expect that this will be endorsed by the whole of the EP.
"Different research has underlined that the EU's current 20% emissions target for 2020 is completely obsolete. It is acting as a barrier to proactive emissions reductions efforts and investments in green technologies, and hence job creation. Stepping up to a 30% emissions reduction target will create millions of extra jobs and boost public revenues, as well as bringing major health benefits for our citizens.
"The inertia with the EU's emissions target is also a stumbling block in international efforts to tackle climate change in the UNFCCC. Various countries have now pledged more ambitious climate change actions than the EU and the EU's refusal to increase from its outdated 20% target means it is now a laggard rather than a leader in the area of international climate diplomacy. EU governments should end their perpetual prevarication and step up to a 30% target without delay."
(1) 44 in favour, 14 against, 1 abstention.
