EU Lawmakers Call for Tougher 2030 Emissions Target

Members of the European Parliament have backed revising the 2030 target for emissions reductions to 60% of the level in 1990, from 40% currently, the EU said on October 8. 

Parliament adopted its negotiating mandate on EU climate law on October 7, after voting 392 in favour and 161 against, with 142 abstentions. The lawmakers' proposal goes further than that of the European Commission, which recently advocated for a 2030 target of "at least 55%." Parliament will negotiate proposed changes with member states once the European Council agrees on a common position.

Lawmakers also want to make the bloc's climate neutral goal for 2050 legally binding, and commit the European Commission (EC) to propose by June 2023 a trajectory for achieving this. In addition, they want the EC to propose an interim target for 2040 and are seeking the creation of an independent EU Climate Change Council to track progress. 

Finally, they support the phase-out of all direct and indirect fossil fuel subsidies by the EU and member states by December 31 2025.

"The adoption of the report sends a clear message to the Commission and the Council, in light of the upcoming negotiations," Parliament rapporteur Jytte Guteland, of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, said in a statement. "We expect all member states to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest and we need strong interim targets in 2030 and 2040 for the EU to achieve this."